Türkiye’s Rising Plastic Scrap Imports Raise Pollution Concerns

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Turkiye has witnessed rapid growth in its recycling industry in recent years, largely driven by rising imports of foreign plastic waste. According to data from UN Comtrade, the country received 677,663 metric tons of plastic scrap in 2024, with about 77% originating from the U.K. and the European Union.

After China banned plastic waste imports in 2018, Turkiye emerged as a key destination for global scrap shipments. Much of this material is processed in nearly 180 plastic recycling facilities located in Adana Province, where the Seyhan River runs toward the Mediterranean. However, reports indicate that some waste is dumped along riverbanks or leaks from facilities through wastewater systems, eventually reaching the Mediterranean Sea.

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Environmental groups say the issue is compounded by weak waste management practices. According to Earth Action, Turkiye mismanages more than 53% of its plastic waste, allowing significant quantities to enter waterways.

A report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ranked Turkiye among the Mediterranean’s largest contributors to plastic leakage.

Plastic pollution can disrupt green turtle nesting behavior, with turtles avoiding heavily contaminated beaches and marine debris contributing to strandings. Larger plastics cause injury or suffocation through entanglement or ingestion, while smaller fragments can be consumed by a wide range of marine species.