Turkey to launch national strategic roadmap for plastic waste management

Turkey is launching a national strategic roadmap to address the lifecycle of plastics, from production to recycling. Under the leadership of the Zero Waste Foundation, the ‘Turkey Plastic Cycle Common Intelligence Platform – Sustainable Future in the Plastic Cycle Workshop’ is scheduled to take place in Istanbul from August 31 to September 1, 2026. The event aims to bring together 17 ministries, over 40 general directorates, and more than 400 experts to establish a national action plan for combating plastic pollution.

This initiative follows global zero waste visions championed by Emine Erdoğan and aligns with policies set by Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum. To prepare for the national workshop, local coordination meetings are being held in strategic cities including Adana, Mersin, Muğla, and Antalya to gather field data on waste separation and marine ecosystem protection.

Environmental concerns persist regarding plastic imports and local pollution. Data indicates that in 2025, European countries exported nearly 699,000 tons of plastic waste to Turkey, generating $193.2 million for Turkish recycling firms. Furthermore, studies in the Seyhan region highlight severe water quality issues; irrigation canals have shown extreme oxygen depletion and high chemical oxygen demand, with microplastic discharge from recycling facilities contributing to the contamination of local water systems and the Mediterranean Sea.