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German politician warns against plastic waste exports to Turkey
Macit Karaahmetoğlu, a member of the German Bundestag's European Affairs Committee and President of the German-Turkish Society, has warned against the environmental and health impacts of European plastic waste exports to Turkey.
Speaking during the COP31 UN Climate Conference in Antalya, Karaahmetoğlu highlighted that more than one third of the European Union's plastic waste exports are sent to Turkey. In 2025 alone, this amounted to approximately 500,000 tonnes. He noted that Turkey has become a primary recipient of European plastic waste since China introduced import restrictions in 2018.
In the Adana region, studies of waters near recycling facilities revealed significant pollution. Microplastic concentrations downstream from certain plants were measured to be up to 132 times higher than upstream. Karaahmetoğlu stated that this poses a direct threat to humans and the environment, as microplastics entering irrigation channels can affect agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems through the food chain.
Entities
Adana · COP31 · German Bundestag · German-Turkish Society · Macit Karaahmetoğlu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, approximately 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste were exported to Turkey. www.derwesten.de · www.moin.de · www.berlin-live.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Turkey became a major recipient of European plastic waste after China introduced import restrictions in 2018. www.derwesten.de · www.moin.de · www.berlin-live.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Microplastic concentrations downstream from certain recycling plants in Adana were up to 132 times higher than upstream. www.derwesten.de · www.moin.de · www.berlin-live.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than one third of the European Union's plastic waste exports go to Turkey. www.derwesten.de · www.moin.de · www.berlin-live.de