2023-11-16 13:20:46
Ankara. According to Eurostat data, Turkey ranked first again in 2022 as the country that receives the most solid waste and plastic garbage from Europe. Although the Ministry hides the fate of the incoming waste plastics, according to the results published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), Turkey became the country that imported the most recyclable plastic waste from the European Union (EU) in 2022.
According to statistics, Türkiye imported 319 thousand tons of recyclable plastic. The recyclable wastes most exported out of the EU in 2022 were paper, plastic and glass, respectively. Turkey imported 319 thousand tons, corresponding to 29 percent of all recyclable plastic sent outside the EU. It was followed by Indonesia with a 17 percent share and Malaysia with a 15 percent share.
In 2022, union countries exported 1.1 million tons of recyclable plastic products to countries outside the EU. According to Eurostat data, Turkey became one of the countries that imported the most recyclable paper from the EU last year, with a volume of 588 thousand tons. 29 percent of the EU’s total recyclable paper exports of 4.9 million tons are to India; 19 percent was to Indonesia and 12 percent to Turkey.
The EU exported a total of 6.4 million tonnes of recyclable paper, plastic and glass outside its borders in 2022. This means that total exports increased by 8.4 percent compared to 2021; This means that it decreased by more than 35 percent compared to 2010, which is considered the base year. Last year, Union countries exported recyclable paper worth 930 million euros, recyclable plastic worth 423 million euros and recyclable glass worth 25 million euros.
Workers in the facilities are struggling with serious diseases
In its report published in September 2022, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the fundamental health rights of those working in plastic recycling facilities in Turkey and those living around the facility are under threat. The organization interviewed employees at the facilities and shared that these people complained of respiratory diseases, chronic headaches and skin problems, and that they did not have access to protective equipment and health services for occupational diseases while working.
According to Eurostat’s 2021 waste export data, Turkey was the country that imported the most waste from the European Union with 14.7 million tons. 13.1 million tons, which constitutes approximately two-thirds of all scrap metal exported from the EU, were sent to Turkey. The Brussels-based European Steel Association (EUROFER) had criticized the EU for “exporting scrap metal to third countries with lower environmental, climate, labor and social standards”.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament adopted a new bill introducing stricter procedures and control measures for waste shipments, including a ban on the shipment of all waste to be disposed of.
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