UK plastic ‘waste colonialism’ found to be polluting Turkey’s farming heartland

UK plastic waste exports have been linked to severe contamination of a key agricultural region in southern Turkey, raising new concerns about the environmental and health impacts of so-called "waste colonialism." High concentrations of microplastics and other pollutants were detected in a waterway near Adana, a major hub for recycling operations fed by plastic waste imported from Britain. This waterway, which floods into farmland during heavy rains, flows into a larger canal used to irrigate crops in the Çukurova plain, one of Turkey's most productive agricultural areas. The discovery comes amid renewed scrutiny of the United Kingdom’s role in sending large volumes of plastic waste abroad, particularly to countries with less stringent environmental regulations. According to a recent investigation by The Guardian, the UK exported 675,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2025, the highest level in eight years, with nearly 139,000 tonnes going directly to Turkey. That figure represents a significant portion of the European Union’s total exports to the country, which increased by 19 percent compared to the previous year, reaching over 500,000 tonnes. Environmental groups in both the UK and Turkey argue that these exports fuel the operations responsible for the pollution, disproportionately affecting lower-income communities in Adana. An analysis of import and export data by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) revealed that approximately 13 percent of UK plastic waste sent to Turkey was directed to eight recycling facilities in Adana between May 2021 and July 2024. During this time, thirteen British firms dispatched 545 shipments totaling 52,000 tonnes of plastic waste to the area. Research conducted by Turkish marine biologist Sedat Gündoğdu of Sabancı University’s Istanbul Policy Center showed that samples collected from a canal downstream of the recycling zone contained ten times more microplastics than those taken upstream. These findings suggest that the recycling process is releasing contaminants into the water supply, which then seep into the soil and affect local agriculture. Gündoğdu described the situation as a serious threat to food safety and urged the implementation of mandatory filtration systems and independent monitoring of wastewater discharges in agricultural regions. Gündoğdu noted that the contaminated water eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the already high levels of marine plastic pollution in the region. His study, published in Environment Monitoring and Assessment, identified specific types of plastic debris, pellets, films, and fragments, that are typical of industrial recycling processes. He emphasized the need for stricter controls on waste imports and better oversight of recycling practices. Amy Youngman, a legal expert at the EIA, criticized the UK’s approach to managing plastic waste, stating that its reliance on exporting waste instead of reducing consumption or improving domestic recycling has led to a "structural imbalance." She argued that this policy shift has allowed pollution to occur in foreign countries where such practices would be unacceptable in the UK. Youngman pointed out that the consequences, ranging from health risks to environmental degradation, are borne primarily by Turkish communities. The issue has gained additional attention following a 2021 Greenpeace investigation that uncovered similar patterns of plastic waste being processed in Turkey. Activists and scientists continue to push for stronger international agreements to curb the flow of hazardous waste from developed to developing nations. Despite commitments made by the UK to reduce plastic pollution and participate in global treaty discussions, no formal ban on plastic waste exports has been enacted. Negotiations for a comprehensive plastics treaty, which collapsed last year, are set to resume in 2027. In the meantime, the residents of Adana face growing uncertainty about the long-term effects of this pollution on their health and livelihoods. As the debate over waste management intensifies, pressure mounts on governments and corporations to address the environmental costs of unchecked plastic production and disposal.