UK Waste to Türkiye Surges to 140,907 Tonnes in 2023
In 2023, the UK exported 140,907 tonnes of waste to Türkiye, making it the largest exporter of waste to the country globally and marking a significant increase from the 87,900 tonnes exported in 2022. This rise comes after a temporary dip in figures last year, which Greenpeace now suggests was merely a “blip.” Early data for 2024 indicates that this upward trend in UK waste exports to Türkiye is continuing.
Türkiye’s Role as a Primary Destination for European Waste
Türkiye has emerged as the top destination for plastic waste exports from European nations. This shift largely began after China’s 2018 ban on plastic waste imports, followed by similar restrictions in other East and Southeast Asian countries. With limited options for plastic waste processing, European exporters have increasingly turned to Türkiye as an alternative market.
Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations
The Greenpeace analysis has been released in anticipation of the final Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, scheduled for late November in Busan, South Korea. This treaty is intended to establish a legally binding framework aimed at eradicating plastic pollution by 2040. However, the latest negotiation round in April 2024 left environmental groups disappointed, as significant agreements and binding commitments remain unresolved.
Greenpeace Calls for Action on UK Waste Exports
Greenpeace Türkiye has issued a strong appeal to the UK and other European countries, urging an immediate halt to plastic waste exports to Türkiye. According to Greenpeace Türkiye’s plastics campaign lead, Nihan Temiz Ataş, Türkiye has faced significant environmental damage from plastic imports, with irreparable contamination of its soil, air, and water. In response, Ataş is calling on the UK government to take full responsibility for its plastic waste and ensure transparency in waste management practices.
Ataş further argues that the Global Plastics Treaty represents a crucial chance to halt Türkiye’s role as a recipient of European plastic waste. A robust and binding treaty could enforce meaningful steps to tackle plastic pollution comprehensively, from production to disposal. Ataş emphasised that plastic waste exports are evidence of developed countries shifting their environmental burden onto vulnerable, developing nations instead of addressing pollution at its root. With Türkiye having served as Europe’s “dumping ground” for half a decade, Greenpeace Türkiye demands a treaty that enacts a total ban on plastic waste imports.