Saadet Party official warns of rising plastic waste imports to Turkey

Ahmet Muratoğlu, the Trabzon Provincial Chairman of the Saadet Party, has raised concerns regarding the increasing volume of plastic waste being imported into Turkey from European countries. Citing 2025 data from the Basel Action Network (BAN), Muratoğlu noted that plastic waste shipments from European Union countries rose by 18 percent, increasing from 426,000 tons in 2024 to 503,000 tons in 2025.

Specific increases were highlighted in shipments from Germany, which rose from 72,000 tons to 154,000 tons in the same period. Additionally, of the 675,000 tons of plastic waste exported by the United Kingdom, 139,000 tons were sent to Turkey.

Muratoğlu warned that the influx of foreign waste poses risks to public health and the environment, specifically regarding soil and water pollution and microplastics. He argued that Turkey should prioritize managing its own domestic waste through a national waste management policy rather than becoming a destination for Europe's plastic waste. To address these issues, he proposed a seven-point action plan that includes implementing strict quality criteria for imports, establishing digital traceability for waste processing, and ensuring transparent data sharing regarding recycling rates.