Iran’s 1st pilot deposit scheme for recycling polymer, metal bottles launched

The pilot project for the deposit system on disposable polymer and metal bottles has been officially launched with the support of the Center for International Scientific and Technological Interactions, under the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-based Economy. 

The initiative, under the Connect Program, will run from March 2024 to March 2025. The University of Science and Technology of Iran has been selected as the hosting institution for this pilot program.

The primary aim of the project is to collect single-use metal and plastic bottles across the university campus by employing a financial deposit mechanism, a strategy successfully utilized in both Iran and leading circular economy nations over recent years.

The pilot project represents the first systematic recycling program for single-use bottles in Iran based on a deposit system. If successful, it could serve as a model for scaling up this globally practiced approach within the country, contributing significantly to waste reduction and resource sustainability.