The EU will continue exporting hundreds of thousands of tonnes of plastic waste to Turkey despite concerns over environmental damage and recycling practices.
Turkey imported around 510,000 tonnes of EU plastic waste last year, accounting for 36% of all plastic waste exported by the bloc and around 70% of exports to OECD countries.
A European Commission assessment raised concerns about limited information on how waste is managed and uncertainty over the enforcement of regulations.
Stakeholders interviewed for the assessment estimated that only around 10% of plastic waste is recycled in Turkey, with much of the remainder reportedly sent to landfill, mismanaged or leaking into the environment.
The findings raised the possibility of suspending exports under the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation.
However, the Commission concluded that shipments could continue and referred to improvements to Turkey’s legal framework and environmental enforcement.
The decision comes as the EU seeks to tighten controls on waste exports and reduce pollution linked to international waste management.
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