[CLSTR]
API
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [INTERNATIONAL]

16 clusters · 78 sources · 88 days · First seen · Last updated

Turkey implements strategic roadmap for plastic waste

Overview

Turkey continues to face significant environmental pressure from plastic waste imports. In 2025, European countries exported nearly 699,000 tons of plastic waste to Turkey, generating $193.2 million for Turkish recycling firms. Environmental studies in the Seyhan region have highlighted severe water quality issues linked to microplastic discharge from recycling facilities.

To address these challenges, Turkey is implementing a national strategic roadmap. In August 2026, stakeholders in Antalya met to discuss reducing plastic at the source and preventing waste from reaching the Mediterranean. This was followed by the ‘Turkey Plastic Cycle Common Intelligence Platform – Sustainable Future in the Plastic Cycle Workshop’ in Istanbul, which established 15 thematic working groups to support the ‘2053 Turkey Plastic Vision.’ Simultaneously, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change designated September as ‘Zero Waste in Schools’ month to foster environmental awareness.

The Zero Waste Movement, launched in 2017 under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, is being positioned as a central pillar of the upcoming COP31 summit in Antalya (November 9–20, 2026). The movement has expanded its global reach through climate diplomacy, including Emine Erdoğan’s participation in New York Climate Week and a cooperation protocol between the Zero Waste Foundation and London Climate Action Week. On its ninth anniversary on September 27, 2026, Minister Murat Kurum reported that the initiative has processed approximately 90 million tons of waste, contributing 365 billion TL to the national economy. To further integrate local and national policies, the Zero Waste Foundation is conducting a nationwide series of workshops across 81 provinces, including recent sessions in Adana and Afyonkarahisar.

Entities

Zero Waste Foundation · Emine Erdoğan · Samed Ağırbaş · Murat Kurum · Istanbul

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 8 sources
    Afyonkarahisar hosts Zero Waste and Climate Change workshop

    Afyonkarahisar hosted a Zero Waste workshop with 352 participants from 131 institutions to discuss resource management, waste prevention, and climate change mitigation.

  2. [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Adana hosts Zero Waste and climate change workshop

    A Zero Waste Workshop focused on waste, resource management, and climate change has launched at Çukurova University in Adana, Turkey, featuring 15 thematic discussion groups.

  3. [INTERNATIONAL] 20 sources
    Zero Waste Movement celebrates 9th anniversary and global expansion

    The Zero Waste Movement celebrates its 9th anniversary, marking its transition from a Turkish national project to a UN-recognized global initiative ahead of Turkey's COP31 presidency.

  4. [INTERNATIONAL] 20 sources
    Emine Erdoğan promotes Zero Waste movement at New York Climate Week

    Emine Erdoğan advocated for the Zero Waste movement at New York Climate Week, emphasizing individual action and meeting with international leaders to advance climate diplomacy ahead of COP31.

  5. [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Türkiye Zero Waste Foundation signs climate pact with London Climate Action Week

    Türkiye’s Zero Waste Foundation has signed a partnership with London Climate Action Week to collaborate on circular economy and climate action ahead of Türkiye hosting COP31.

  6. [CULTURE] 4 sources
    Turkey to present zero waste initiatives at COP31

    Turkey aims to showcase its zero waste initiatives at COP31 while launching a new educational campaign focused on promoting sustainable consumption and waste management in schools.

  7. [INTERNATIONAL] 18 sources
    Turkey launches Zero Waste initiatives for schools and plastic management

    Turkey is launching a ‘Zero Waste in Schools’ initiative for September and concluded a major Plastic Waste Workshop in Istanbul to develop a circular economy and prepare for the COP31 climate summit.

  8. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Zero Waste Foundation President addresses plastic pollution and global climate goals

    Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş called for coordinated action against plastic pollution in Turkey and promoted the nation's Zero Waste Movement at the UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia.

  9. [CULTURE] 7 sources
    Antalya stakeholders meet to address plastic waste management

    Stakeholders in Antalya met to discuss plastic waste management and prevention strategies in preparation for a national workshop in Istanbul scheduled for late August.

  10. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Zero Waste Foundation to host plastic pollution workshop in Istanbul

    The Zero Waste Foundation will host a major workshop in Istanbul on August 31–September 1, 2026, to create a strategic roadmap for managing Turkey's plastic lifecycle and combating pollution.

  11. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Turkey to launch national strategic roadmap for plastic waste management

    Turkey is organizing a major national workshop in Istanbul to develop a strategic roadmap for plastic waste management and a circular economy, amid concerns over microplastic pollution and waste imports.

  12. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Turkey and Southeast Asia become major recipients of EU plastic waste

    The EU exported 1.5 million tons of plastic waste in 2025, with Turkey and Southeast Asian nations receiving the largest shares, raising environmental concerns regarding microplastic pollution.

  13. [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    UK plastic waste exports linked to pollution in Turkey

    British plastic waste exports to Adana, Turkey, are linked to high microplastic levels in irrigation canals, threatening food safety and agricultural land in the Çukurova Plain.

  14. [INTERNATIONAL] 5 sources
    Turkey faces surge in plastic waste imports harming agriculture

    Turkey received over 500,000 t of EU plastic waste and 139,000 t from the UK in 2024, with microplastics contaminating irrigation canals in Adana’s Çukurova plain, prompting calls for an import ban.

  15. [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Zero Waste Foundation Presents Plastic Waste Report in Istanbul

    Turkey’s Zero Waste Foundation released a Plastic Waste Report showing plastic use doubling globally and Turkey’s per‑capita waste 44.9% above world average; Istanbul Governor called the issue a national‑secure

  16. [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Turkey receives record 503,000 tonnes of EU plastic waste in 2025

    EU plastic waste to Turkey hit a 2025 record of 503,000 tonnes, a 19% rise and 435‑fold increase since 2004, sparking Greenpeace and UN warnings about recycling strain, micro‑plastics, and health risks; calls a

Sources

agf.org.uk · aksam.com.tr · aksiyon.com.tr · alkuwaitnews.net · avrupagazete.co.uk · aydinlik.com.tr · aydinses.com · basakgazetesi.com · benguturk.com · beyazgazete.com · bolgegazetesi.com.tr · borsagundem.com.tr · commuterclub.co.uk · csb.gov.tr · cukurovagazetesi.com · cumhuriyet.com.tr · diken.com.tr · dikgazete.com · donanimhaber.com · emlakdergisi.net.tr · enerjihaber.com · epochtimestr.com · europesays.com · gazeteabc.com · gazetedamga.com.tr · gazeteilksayfa.com · gazetepencere.com · gazetepusula.net · gercektaraf.com · gunaydingazetesi.com.tr · guvengazetesi.com.tr · gzt.com · haber1.com · haber16.com · haber7.com · haberaktuel.com · habereguven.com · haberport.com · halktv.com.tr · indyturk.com · karar.com · karsmanset.com · kemergozcu.com · kentgazetesi.com · kocatepegazetesi.com · koganpage.com · konhaber.com · malatyaguncel.com

This summary has been updated 20 times: see revision history