Tons of Plastics from UK Illegally Dumped and Burned in Turkey

UK plastic wastes were seen floating and lying around in Turkey's 10 waste sites. Environmental campaigners at Greenpeace had documented piles of them illegally dumped in Turkish roads and waterways.

Over the centuries, overproduction contributes greatly to the planet's waste pollution, from our oceans to soils, to endangering wildlife. Plastics have also accumulated to humans for years from breathing it in and growing quantity of microplastic on our food and water.

UK was recorded as second to US in terms of highest total plastic waste production among 20 nations, followed by South Korea and Germany. The massive buildup of plastic in the environment has led multiple global actions over some time now but it seems like we are not winning the fight against plastic pollution very soon. Greenpeace UK calls out accountability to one's wastes and stop dumping them in other countries.

Calling out British Government to "take control" of the problem

Turkish environmental organizations were alerted by evidence of packaging and plastic bags identified with UK supermarkets and retailers' logos found in Turkey's 10 waste sites. Even a packaging for a Covid antigen test was among the plastic bags lying around Adana province, and environmentalists believe the waste was dumped just very recently, less than a year old.

Greenpeace called out Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to "take control" of the situation.

"It is appalling to see plastic from UK supermarkets' shelves ending up 3,000 kilometers away in burning piles on the side of Turkish roads," said Nina Schrank, senior plastics campaigner at Greenpeace UK. She added that countries should stop dumping their plastic wastes illegally in other countries, also noting that overproduction was to blame. Greenpeace suggested that total ban of plastic waste exports will not only reduce single-use plastic by 50 per cent by 2025, but also mean plastics going into incineration and landfill will be reduced.

Truckloads of plastic waste come in every day in Turkish dump sites

Nihan Temiz Atas, a project leader at Greenpeace Mediterranean, confirmed that around 241 truckloads of plastic waste come in every day from across Europe, dumping and burning their waste in Turkish grounds.

"As this new evidence shows, plastic waste coming from the UK to Turkey is an environmental threat not an economic opportunity," said the Atas in Independent. Atas explained how 'uncontrolled imports' of these plastic wastes add up to existing problem of Turkey's own recycling system. Consistent data and actual evidence show Europe has the largest plastic waste dump.

DEFRA, the UK government Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, took liability of the UK's illegal dumping, saying UK should handle more of its waste at home. "We are committed to banning the export of plastic waste to non-OECD countries and clamping down on illegal waste exports - including to countries such as Turkey - through tougher controls," said DEFRA's spokesperson.

In addition, the UK government proposed extended producer responsibility for packaging and plastic packaging tax. In addition, they wish to boost recycling rates, reduce waste and cut crime through mandatory electronic waste tracking.