Müge Okur
Whilst the world’s wealthiest countries boast of clean streets, high recycling rates and environmental policies, there is a hidden side to this cleanliness. That side consists of waste that is transported thousands of kilometres to other countries. In recent years, this system – dubbed ‘waste colonialism’ – has sparked not only an economic debate but also environmental and ethical concerns. The fact that European Union countries send significant quantities of plastic waste to various countries, including Turkey, raises the question: ‘Is Europe really recycling, or is it simply exporting its rubbish?’
What is waste colonialism?
Waste colonialism refers to the practice of developed countries sending their waste to economically more vulnerable nations in order to reduce their own environmental costs. Consequently, environmental risks and pollution arise not in the countries where the waste is produced, but in the countries to which it is sent.
Although official documents define this process as the ‘trade in recyclable raw materials’, environmental organisations argue that this often remains merely on paper. This is because not all of the waste sent is actually recyclable; it may also contain contaminated, mixed or low-value plastics.
Why does Europe send its waste abroad?
Environmental standards within the European Union are very high. The costs of landfill sites, the operating costs of incineration plants and labour costs are also very high. Consequently, sending waste to other countries becomes a more economically attractive option.
China’s near-total ban on plastic waste imports in 2018 altered the direction of the global waste trade. A significant proportion of the millions of tonnes of plastic waste that previously went to China was redirected to countries such as Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Turkey has quickly become one of Europe’s largest importers of plastic waste.
Why does Turkey import waste?
Turkey’s official justification is that the imported waste serves as a secondary raw material for industry. The plastic recycling sector argues that it creates economic value by processing waste rather than producing new plastic.
This system:
- supplies raw materials to the recycling sector,
- reduces costs for plastic producers who export,
- and creates jobs at recycling facilities.
However, this is precisely where the criticism begins.
According to environmental scientists, accepting additional waste from abroad in a context where Turkey cannot even properly sort its own waste creates serious regulatory issues.
What sort of waste is coming into Turkey?
When the public hears the phrase ‘Europe is sending its rubbish’, most people think of household waste. In reality, however, the majority of the waste arriving is classified as plastic waste.
This includes:
- packaging plastics,
- shopping bags,
- plastic bottles,
- industrial plastics,
- mixed plastic waste,
- and plastics that are economically difficult to recycle.
The problem is that some shipments, which appear to be recyclable on paper, may also contain contaminated, mixed and unusable plastics.
What happens to this waste in Turkey?
In an ideal scenario, the waste is sorted, cleaned, converted into plastic granules and used in manufacturing.
However, observations by environmental organisations on the ground show that this does not always happen.
A portion of the plastics with low economic value may be:
- stored haphazardly,
- dumped in open spaces,
- or, at times, burnt in an attempt to dispose of them.
In particular, plastics burnt in the open can lead to the release of pollutants hazardous to human health – such as dioxins, heavy metals and fine particulates – into the atmosphere.
Which regions are most affected?
A significant proportion of Turkey’s plastic recycling facilities are concentrated particularly around Adana. In addition, recycling activities are carried out in the areas surrounding Mersin, Gaziantep, Kocaeli, Istanbul and Izmir.
Environmental organisations have, from time to time, shared images of imported plastic waste dumped or burnt in agricultural fields in Adana, calling for increased inspections.
Ecological impacts
The improper management of plastic waste can lead to:
- soil contamination,
- contamination of groundwater,
- the formation of microplastics,
- damage to agricultural land,
- and adverse effects on wildlife.
Toxic gases emitted from burnt plastic can degrade air quality, thereby increasing health risks, particularly for children and the elderly.
Opposition campaigns
Numerous environmental organisations in Turkey and across Europe are running campaigns against the trade in plastic waste.
Their main demands are as follows:
- Europe should process its own waste within its own borders,
- that Turkey completely halt or significantly restrict the import of plastic waste,
- that recycling facilities be strictly monitored,
- that transparent import data be published,
- and that the production of single-use plastics be reduced.
The key argument of these campaigns is this: the problem is not merely where the waste ends up, but why so much waste is being produced in the first place.
Conclusion
The waste trade cannot be viewed merely as an economic activity. This issue represents a crucial test in terms of global environmental justice, public health and sustainable development. If Europe’s success in recycling relies on sending its waste to other countries, this success must be re-examined. Similarly, Turkey must make a critical choice between short-term economic gains and long-term environmental costs.
Sending a country’s waste to another country does not eliminate the problem. It merely shifts its location on the map. And all too often, it places the environmental burden on the shoulders of communities with the least say in the matter.
To be continued.