Turkey becomes Europe's largest plastic waste importer: 'Zero waste rhetoric falls flat'

While Turkey attempts to stand out on the international stage with its "Zero Waste" vision, the latest policy brief published by Greenpeace Turkey has exposed a bitter reality. According to official data, Turkey became the number one destination for European Union plastic waste by a wide margin in 2025.

Ahead of the "Zero Waste Forum" to be held this weekend, Greenpeace Turkey published a striking report that reveals the major contradiction in environmental policy. The briefing note, titled "The Truth Behind the Rhetoric: The Unseen Face of Turkey's Zero Waste Policy," proved that the amount of foreign waste entering the country has reached alarming levels.

HISTORIC RECORD IN 2025: 503 THOUSAND TONS OF PLASTIC WASTE!

According to the analyses in the report, the amount of plastic waste Turkey imports from Europe has skyrocketed in the last year:

19 Percent Increase: In 2025, the amount of plastic waste sent to Turkey from the 27 EU member countries increased by 19 percent, reaching 503 thousand tons and breaking a historic record.

435-Fold Increase in 20 Years: With this latest wave, the amount of plastic waste coming to Turkey from the European Union has increased 435-fold since 2004.

The Recycling Illusion: Greenpeace emphasized that while the ministry presents recycling rates as a success criterion, the global plastic recycling rate remains at only around 9 percent, rendering the current policy ineffective.

SEAS AND COASTLINES UNDER MICROPLASTIC THREAT

Berk Butan, Social and Economic Systems Campaigner at Greenpeace Turkey, made harsh statements on the issue, saying that the situation on the ground is entirely a "policy choice." Stating that Turkey's seas and coastlines are being polluted with microplastics due to imported waste, Butan pointed out that while "Zero Waste" is being touted on one hand, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes for new petrochemical facilities are being operated without interruption on the other.

GREENPEACE CALLS ON MINISTRIES: "BAN IMPORTS IMMEDIATELY"

Environmentalists, stating that Turkey—which will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya in November 2026—must urgently rid itself of this contradiction, launched the "Real Zero Waste" campaign and submitted the following 4 urgent demands to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Trade:

Permanent Ban: An unconditional and permanent ban on the import of plastic and textile waste should be implemented.

Stop Investments: New petrochemical investments should be suspended immediately and a sectoral moratorium should be declared.

Prevention at the Source: Binding targets for reducing plastic production before it even leaves the factory should be integrated into national climate change action plans.

Clear Stance at the Summit: A radical position advocating for strict limits on plastic production should be taken in the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.