The short version
- Research indicates microplastic levels in Turkish irrigation canals are ten times higher downstream from recycling facilities than upstream.
- The UK exported record volumes of plastic waste to Turkey in 2025, with a significant portion directed to facilities in the Adana region.
- Experts warn that current export practices shift environmental burdens to communities with less stringent regulatory oversight.
New scientific evidence suggests that plastic waste exported from the United Kingdom is contributing to microplastic pollution in Turkey’s agricultural heartland. Researchers have detected high concentrations of microscopic plastic particles in waterways adjacent to a major recycling hub in Adana, a city located on the fertile Çukurova plain. These findings highlight growing concerns about the environmental impact of international waste trade and the disproportionate burden placed on receiving nations.
The investigation focused on irrigation canals that feed into one of Turkey’s most productive farming regions. After heavy rainfall, polluted water from areas near recycling operations floods into these canals, potentially contaminating crops and soil. Sedat Gündoğdu, a marine biologist at Sabancı University’s Istanbul Policy Center, conducted the sampling and published his results in Environment Monitoring and Assessment. His data shows that microplastic levels downstream from the recycling zone are ten times higher than those found at upstream sites.
The types of plastic fragments identified in the water include pellets, films, and shards characteristic of industrial recycling processes. Gündoğdu noted that the discharge of wastewater containing these particles raises serious questions about food safety and agricultural contamination. He also warned that this pollution eventually flows into the Mediterranean Sea, exacerbating marine plastic accumulation and undermining broader efforts to protect the region’s ecosystems from debris.
Trade data analyzed by the Environmental Investigation Agency reveals the scale of waste movement involved. Between May 2021 and July 2024, approximately 13% of UK plastic waste shipped to Turkey went to eight facilities within Adana’s recycling zone. Thirteen British companies were responsible for sending 545 shipments totaling 52,000 tonnes during this period. In 2025 alone, the UK exported 675,000 tonnes of plastic waste, its highest volume in eight years, with 139,000 tonnes destined for Turkey.
While there is no indication that these British exporters are violating current laws, critics argue that the system fails to ensure environmentally sound management. UK regulations require businesses to verify that exported waste is handled properly, but enforcement and oversight remain contentious issues. Amy Youngman, a legal specialist at the EIA, described the situation as a structural imbalance where pollution occurs overseas in ways that would not be tolerated within the UK itself.
The term waste colonialism has been used by campaigners to describe this dynamic, wherein wealthy nations export waste to countries with less regulated management systems. This practice shifts health, economic, and environmental harms to communities in Turkey, particularly poorer residents living near recycling hubs. A previous Greenpeace investigation in 2021 found that plastic waste from British supermarkets was being dumped and burned in Adana, further fueling local opposition.
Regulatory landscapes are shifting across Europe, potentially affecting future trade flows. The European Union has imposed stricter controls on plastic waste exports, banning shipments to non-OECD countries starting in November. However, Turkey is an OECD member and remains a primary importer of EU waste. Environmentalists fear these new rules may inadvertently increase pressure on Turkish facilities as exporters seek compliant destinations.
The UK government maintains that strict controls are already in place under domestic legislation. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs stated that businesses must ensure waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner and noted that actions have been taken to reinforce these standards. Meanwhile, global negotiations for a plastics treaty collapsed last year, with talks expected to resume in 2027.
Gündoğdu has called for a complete ban on plastic imports to Turkey until adequate safeguards are established. He advocates for mandatory microplastic filtration at all recycling facilities and independent monitoring of wastewater discharges in agricultural zones. Without such measures, he argues, the contamination of irrigation systems will continue to pose risks to both public health and marine environments.
As global attention turns toward reducing plastic pollution, the case of Adana illustrates the complexities of international waste management. The disconnect between export volumes and local environmental capacity underscores the need for more transparent supply chains and stricter accountability. Until comprehensive reforms are implemented, communities in Turkey may continue to bear the costs of foreign consumption patterns.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗UK plastic ‘waste colonialism’ found to be polluting Turkey’s farming heartland
