Turkey's plastic waste imports on the COP31 agenda and causing concern in Adana

As Turkey hosts the United Nations COP31 climate summit in Antalya, the country's plastic waste imports and the environmental impacts of recycling facilities continue to be a subject of debate. Residents living in Adana state that they are adversely affected by the smoke and ashes resulting from the open-air burning of plastic wastes at the facilities, while environmental activists call for an end to waste trading.

Residents of Küçükdikili, a low-income neighborhood in Adana, claim that recycling facilities regularly burn waste in the open air. According to data from the Microplastic Research Group, about 200 fires break out every year in recycling facilities across Turkey. Murat Esin, a local resident, stated that they cannot breathe due to the odor and ashes and that cancer cases are on the rise, while environmental activist Yaşar Gökoğlu argued that companies choose burning as the cheapest way to get rid of waste. Sedat Gündoğdu, a marine biologist from the Microplastic Research Group, described the plastic waste trade as a new form of colonialism and stated that it should be completely ended.

COP31 and Zero Waste Agenda

According to the Ministry of Environment, the Zero Waste campaign spearheaded by Emine Erdoğan is among the important topics on Turkey's agenda within the scope of COP31. Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, emphasizes that plastic waste imported for recycling must be processed, inspected, and traceable without harming the environment. In addition, while the European Union's regulation banning the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries is expected to enter into force on November 21, Turkey is not covered by this ban because it is an OECD member. Experts express concern that the amount of plastic waste coming to Turkey may increase following the EU ban.