Aydın Tiryaki (2026)
Plastic is arguably one of modern engineering’s greatest triumphs in terms of food safety and logistical efficiency. Yet, today it is often portrayed as the sole villain of environmental degradation. In Turkey, the “paid plastic bag” policy that began in 2019 has certainly raised awareness, but a closer look at the numbers reveals that this move addresses only a tiny fraction of a massive plastic waste mountain.
1. The Economy of the Plastic Bag: The 2019-2026 Timeline
Turkey adopted a “charging model” to prevent the uncontrolled dispersal of plastic bags. However, over the past seven years, the initial “deterrent” effect has eroded due to economic shifts.
Plastic Bag Pricing Timeline in Turkey:
| Period | Status | Consumer Price |
| Jan 1, 2019 | Implementation Start | 25 Kuruş |
| 2019 – 2024 | Fixed Price Period | 25 Kuruş |
| Jan 1, 2025 | First Significant Update | 50 Kuruş |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Current Status | 1 TL |
During this period, ultra-thin bags used for produce and hygiene remained free. This led to a new consumer behavior: “double-bagging” or using multiple free thin bags to replace the paid ones, occasionally bypassing the intended environmental goal.
2. The Mathematical Paradox: 1 Unit vs. 19 Units
When we analyze a standard grocery basket through an engineering lens, the impact of controlling plastic bags is remarkably limited.
- The Weight of the Bag: A standard grocery bag weighs approximately 7-8 grams.
- The Weight of Packaging: A single 1-liter PET bottle (35g), a hard plastic cheese container (50g), and a yogurt tub (45g) combined result in roughly 130-140 grams of plastic mass.
According to this data, by eliminating the bag, we are addressing only 1/20th (5%) of the problem. The remaining 19 units (95%) of heavy, stable plastic mass remain in the system under the guise of “packaging protection.” Focusing solely on the bag while ignoring the rest is like trying to stop a flood with a single brick.
3. Consumer Rights and the “Defective Design” Conflict
The strategy of producing “perforated bags” to discourage secondary use (like bin liners) has evolved into a consumer rights issue.
- A Paid Product: Consumers no longer receive bags as a “service”; they purchase them as a “product.”
- Defective Goods: Intentional micro-perforations prevent the bag from being used for waste but also cause leaks from groceries, leading to hygiene issues in residential buildings.
Under Consumer Protection Laws, a product that fails to maintain its integrity or functionality—especially when a fee is charged—can be classified as a “defective good.”
4. A Debt of Gratitude to Plastics: Hygiene and Conservation
Abandoning plastic entirely is a utopia that would make feeding 8 billion people impossible. Without the protective barrier of plastic packaging:
- Shelf life would plummet, leading to massive food waste.
- Heavy alternative packaging (glass, metal) would increase transport weight, significantly raising carbon emissions.
- The risk of communicable diseases from unpackaged food would surge.
In this context, plastic is not a “scapegoat” but an essential engineering barrier that protects our most vital resources.
5. Conclusion: From Reckless Disposal to Professional Collection
The problem is not the production of plastic, but the failure of the “farewell protocol”—what happens after its use. It is clear that we cannot save the world simply by charging 1 TL for a bag. The real solution lies in Circular Economy models that ensure the “19 units” of heavy packaging return to the market as raw material.
True environmentalism is not about easing our conscience by paying for a bag; it is about building a professional collection network that treats every plastic item not as “trash,” but as a valuable resource to be reclaimed.
A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)
Aydın Tiryaki 