EU anti‑fraud office uncovers illegal textile waste shipments from Italy to Turkey

The European Anti‑Fraud Office (OLAF) identified a suspected network in Italy that illegally moved more than 26,000 tonnes of textile waste, largely non‑biodegradable acrylic fibres, to Turkey. Joint investigations with the Italian Carabinieri and Turkish authorities seized around 4,200 tonnes of the waste in Turkey and confiscated assets worth roughly €12 million in Italy. About 20 people are being investigated. The waste was falsely declared as recyclable to evade environmental regulations. The EU has highlighted that millions of tonnes of textile waste are generated each year, with a low recycling rate, and stricter export rules will apply from the end of 2025.