Advertisement
Become a member of the Big Issue community
JOIN
Environment

Turkey bans plastic waste imports following environmental campaign

Turkey has announced further restrictions on plastic waste imports to the country. The new regulations will ban common waste products.

Plastic waste dumped in Turkey revealed during Greenpeace investigation

Turkey has banned most plastic waste imports to the country after environmental campaigners reported finding rubbish from the UK and other European countries clogging rivers and burning on roadsides in the country.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade said the ban on plastic shopping bags and shampoo bottles from recycling imports, as well as other products made with polyethylene, will come into effect on July 2. Waste including PVC, used for cable insulation, as well as other less common plastics are already restricted. Greenpeace said the new ban will affect 94 per cent of UK plastic exports to Turkey. 

The UK sends hundreds of thousands of tonnes of recycling and waste to Turkey every year but a recent Greenpeace campaign found evidence of plastic packaging dumped across the country from UK supermarkets including Asda and Tesco.

Sam Chetan-Welsh, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “It is excellent news that the Turkish government has finally responded to years of calls from local campaigners to ban plastic trash from entering the country and protect people and the environment. Our colleagues at Greenpeace Turkey are delighted that international media attention on this story has encouraged the government to act.

“We will be watching to see what happens with UK exports to Turkey, and are mindful that there may be an increase of shipments to other countries like Malaysia, Poland and the Netherlands.”

Greenpeace has previously accused Boris Johnson of only adopting “half measures” with the plastic waste crisis.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Current UK laws ban the export of plastic waste from the UK unless it is for recycling purposes. 

However, Greenpeace’s report included photos of plastic waste on Turkey’s roadsides and waterways. These pictures  included evidence of UK brands such as M&S and Lidl. 

Karahan, Adana Province Turkey
Investigation into plastic waste that is dumped and burned in Turkey. The team found plastic packaging from UK, German and global food and drinks brands and supermarkets. Image: Caner Ozkan/Greenpeace

People exporting outside of UK regulation could face a two-year jail term. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have said they are looking into the impacts of the ban. 

A Defra spokesperson said “We are clear that the UK should handle more of its waste at home, and that’s why we are committed to banning the export of plastic waste to non-OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries and clamping down on illegal waste exports – including to countries such as Turkey – through tougher controls.”

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

View all
Water companies' £158m fine over sewage pollution prompts fresh calls for nationalisation
A dripping tap against dappled sunlight
Sewage pollution

Water companies' £158m fine over sewage pollution prompts fresh calls for nationalisation

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up
Sewage pollution

Sewage pollution levels in this river are 100 times safe 'limits'. The fight is now on to clean it up

Lessons from the Middle East – 'the epicentre of climate discourse' – for a warming planet
Climate change

Lessons from the Middle East – 'the epicentre of climate discourse' – for a warming planet

A 'truly catastrophic' flood could be just around the corner, experts warn. We need to adapt – fast
Floods

A 'truly catastrophic' flood could be just around the corner, experts warn. We need to adapt – fast

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know