UK plastic ‘waste colonialism’ found to be polluting Turkey’s farming heartland
Summary
A waterway near a major plastic recycling center in Adana, Turkey, is highly polluted with microplastics from plastic waste sent by British companies. This pollution affects farmland irrigation and raises concerns about the environmental and health impact of the UK exporting plastic waste to countries with weaker regulations.Key Facts
- British companies exported 675,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2025, the highest amount in eight years, with 139,000 tonnes sent to Turkey.
- The polluted waterway in Adana flows into agricultural fields and larger irrigation canals on the fertile Çukurova plain.
- Samples showed microplastic pollution levels ten times higher downstream from the recycling zone compared to upstream.
- The UK government has pledged to reduce plastic pollution but has not banned plastic waste exports.
- About 13% of UK plastic waste to Turkey went to eight recycling facilities in Adana from 2021 to 2024.
- Environmental groups say the UK’s plastic exports cause pollution that harms local Turkish communities and ecosystems.
- A Turkish scientist called for a ban on plastic imports to Turkey and improved waste treatment standards.
- The pollution eventually impacts the Mediterranean Sea, worsening marine plastic pollution.
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