UK Plastic Waste Colonialism Pollutes Turkey’s Farming Heartland 2026

UK plastic waste exports are driving severe pollution in Turkey’s agricultural heartland, according to a new investigation. The term waste colonialism describes how rich nations export plastic waste to poorer countries with weaker regulations, and this practice is now threatening the fertile Çukurova plain in Adana, Turkey.

How UK Plastic Waste Reaches Turkey’s Farms

The Guardian investigation found high levels of microplastics and other plastic contamination in a waterway near a major recycling hub in Adana. This waterway floods into agricultural fields after heavy rain, then feeds into a larger canal used for irrigating crops on the Çukurova plain—one of Turkey’s largest and most productive farming regions.

Britain exported 675,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2025, its highest in eight years, with 139,000 tonnes shipped to Turkey. The EU’s exports to Turkey rose 19% to over 500,000 tonnes that same year. Environmental campaigners say these exports fuel the operations causing the pollution, leaving poorer residents to bear the cost.

Data: The Scale of Plastic Waste Exports

Analysis by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) for the Guardian revealed that 13% of UK plastic waste to Turkey went to eight facilities in Adana’s recycling zone between May 2021 and July 2024. Thirteen British companies sent 545 shipments, totalling 52,000 tonnes, to this hub.

While these exports are not illegal, they raise serious ethical and environmental concerns. The UK government has pledged to reduce plastic pollution but has not committed to banning exports, despite treaty negotiations collapsing last year.

Impact on Agriculture and Local Communities

The Çukurova plain is vital for Turkey’s food production, yet microplastics can accumulate in crops, posing risks to human health and soil quality. Local farmers and residents face the consequences of contaminated irrigation water, which can reduce crop yields and contaminate food supplies.

Environmental groups in both the UK and Turkey are calling for stricter regulations and a halt to plastic waste exports. They argue that without action, wealthy nations continue to offload their waste problems onto vulnerable communities.

Key Takeaways

• UK plastic waste exports to Turkey reached 139,000 tonnes in 2025.
• Microplastic pollution threatens agricultural productivity in Adana.
• Waste colonialism exacerbates environmental injustice.
• UK and EU policies must shift toward reducing plastic production and banning exports.

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