Key facts
- High levels of microplastic and plastic contamination found in a Turkish waterway near a recycling hub.
- The pollution impacts agricultural fields on the Çukurova plain, a key farming region.
- British companies exported 139,000 tonnes of plastic waste to Turkey in 2025.
- Samples showed microplastic levels 10 times higher downstream from the recycling zone compared to upstream.
- Researchers are calling for a ban on plastic imports to Turkey and mandatory filtration systems at recycling facilities.
High levels of microplastic and other plastic contamination have been discovered in a waterway near a major recycling hub in Turkey, which receives plastic waste from British companies. This polluted waterway floods into agricultural fields on the Çukurova plain, a significant farming basin in southern Turkey, raising concerns about food safety and environmental contamination.
The findings from a Guardian investigation highlight the ongoing issue of 'waste colonialism,' where developed nations export plastic waste to countries with less stringent waste management regulations. Despite pledges to reduce plastic pollution, the UK has not committed to a ban on waste exports, with treaty negotiations expected to resume in 2027.
Britain, a major exporter of plastic waste, shipped 139,000 tonnes to Turkey in 2025. An analysis by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) revealed that 13 British companies sent approximately 52,000 tonnes of plastic waste to the Adana recycling hub between May 2021 and July 2024. While these companies are not accused of illegal activity, they have a duty to ensure exported waste is recycled in an environmentally sound manner.
Sedat Gündoğdu, a marine biologist who conducted microplastic sampling, found levels 10 times higher downstream from the recycling zone and has called for a ban on all plastic imports to Turkey, along with mandatory microplastic filtration at facilities. He noted that such pollution ultimately exacerbates marine plastic accumulation in the Mediterranean Sea.
Amy Youngman of the EIA stated that the UK's reliance on exporting waste, rather than investing in domestic solutions, creates a 'structural imbalance' and passes environmental and health burdens to communities in Turkey. Greenpeace investigations have previously found British supermarket waste dumped and burned in Adana. The Turkish government's ban on certain waste imports, including polyethylene, was reportedly revoked due to industry pressure.
The EU has recently implemented stricter controls on plastic waste exports, potentially leading to more waste being sent to Turkey. A spokesperson for the UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs stated that strict controls are in place and actions are being taken to reduce plastic waste exports.