The European Commission is keeping exports of plastic waste to Turkey open, despite reported environmental problems

On September 1, the European Commission decided that exports of plastic waste to Turkey can continue, although its own assessment identified serious problems with their management. The decision keeps open the European Union’s main market for exported waste and was taken as part of the checks required under the EU Waste Shipments Regulation.

Last year, Turkey imported 510,000 tonnes of plastic waste from the EU, equivalent to approximately 25 billion 500-milliliter bottles. The amount represents 70% of European plastic waste exports to OECD countries and 36% of all such exports.

The Commission’s assessment, obtained by POLITICO, cites limited information on waste management, uncertainty over the enforcement of European rules and limited stakeholder involvement. According to people interviewed, only approximately 10% of plastic waste is recycled in Turkey, while the rest ends up in landfills, is mismanaged or enters the environment.

Despite these findings, the European executive said that Turkey had strengthened its legal framework, which is broadly aligned with international and European rules, and had improved enforcement of environmental legislation. Environmental organizations and Turkish researchers dispute this conclusion and are calling for the shipments to be suspended.