Turkey's Plastic Waste Imports from EU Surge to Record High in 2025, Greenpeace Report Finds

Plastic Recycling  |  2026-06-11 05:19:57   |   By

The report, published ahead of the Zero Waste Forum, states that plastic waste imports from the EU have increased an astonishing 435-fold since 2004.

Summary
  • Turkey imported a record 503,000 tons of plastic waste from the EU in 2025, marking a 19% increase from the previous year.
  • EU plastic waste exports to Turkey have surged 435-fold since 2004, making the country the leading destination for EU plastic waste.
  • Greenpeace Turkey called for a ban on plastic and textile waste imports, alongside stronger measures to reduce plastic production and waste generation.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Turkey’s imports of plastic waste from European Union (EU) countries touched a new record of 503,000 tons in 2025. This marks a 19% increase from the previous year. Also, the country continued to remain the leading destination for EU plastic waste exports, according to a new report released by Greenpeace Turkey.

The report, published ahead of the Zero Waste Forum, states that plastic waste imports from the EU have increased an astonishing 435-fold since 2004. The findings raise serious concerns about the gap between Turkey's environmental commitments and its waste management practices. The alarming growth in the country’s imported plastic waste volumes contradicts its efforts to promote a zero-waste agenda.

Berk Butan, Greenpeace Turkey's social and economic systems campaign lead, highlighted the importance of transforming zero-waste rhetoric into meaningful policy action. Also, he reiterated the need for preventing waste generation at the source to achieve genuine waste reduction.

The environmental organization called for a permanent ban on plastic and textile waste imports, a halt to new petrochemical investments, and stronger measures to curb plastic production.