The UK was the largest exporter of waste to Turkey in 2023, with 140,907 tonnes sent to the nation across the year compared to 87,900 the previous year. Turkey has been the leading destination for plastic waste exports from European countries for the past five years with the UK being the largest contributor for all but one of these years.
The revelation comes as nations prepare for the final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty in Busan, South Korea at the end of November. Campaigners hope this treaty will back rules to cut plastic production globally, reducing the amount of plastic waste nations produce.
The scandal of waste exports to Turkey rose to prominence in the UK following a Greenpeace report in 2021 which revealed plastic bags and packaging from the UK being dumped and burned across southern Turkey. Exports from the UK had declined from a peak of 2020 to a low of 87,900 tonnes in 2022. But the rapid increase in 2023 suggests this was a temporary blip, with figures for the first five months of 2024 already showing an acceleration in waste exports..
The rise in plastic waste exports to Turkey began in January 2018, when China banned plastic waste imports. As other countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam imposed similar restrictions, Turkey saw an uncontrolled increase in waste shipments. Greenpeace Türkiye is urging the UK and other European nations to stop sending their plastic waste to Turkey and is calling on Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, as well as all relevant authorities, to take urgent action for a robust Global Plastics Treaty More like this (Greenpeace article) - link - more like this (Turkey) - link - more like this (Greenpeace) - link
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