British companies export 52,000 tonnes of plastic waste to Turkish recycling zone, contaminating farmland

Thirteen British companies sent 52,000 tonnes of plastic waste to a major recycling zone in Adana, southern Turkey, between 2021 and 2024, leading to severe microplastic contamination in local irrigation canals and waterways that supply agricultural land. Research has identified microplastic concentrations up to 132 times higher in some canals downstream of the recycling facility compared to upstream measurements, raising questions about environmental oversight in the global waste trade.

The Contamination Crisis

A Turkish marine biologist analysed water samples near the Kemal Deniz recycling zone and discovered alarming levels of plastic degradation in the surrounding waterways. Microplastic concentrations in one canal downstream of the facility reached ten times higher levels than upstream sites, with other canals linked to recycling operations showing increases of up to 132 times the baseline levels. Pellets, films, and fragments consistent with recycling waste were found exclusively in downstream locations, suggesting direct contamination from facility operations.

These canals feed into irrigation networks serving local farmers and ultimately flow into the Seyhan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Aubergine farmers working near the contaminated waterways reported visible plastic debris accumulating on canal banks, toxic fumes from burning plastic waste piles, and plastic residue coating greenhouse surfaces. One farmer described facing "pollution from all sides," with the recycling zone upstream combining with other industrial operations to create severe environmental stress.

Scale of British Waste Exports

Data analysed by the Environmental Investigation Agency identified 545 shipments from British companies to the Kemal Deniz facility over the three-year period. The UK exported approximately 139,000 tonnes of plastic waste to Turkey during 2025, with over 675,000 tonnes of plastic waste shipped internationally that year. Environmental groups have characterised this trade pattern as "waste colonialism"—a system that transfers pollution burdens to countries with weaker environmental enforcement mechanisms.

British companies involved in these exports are required by law to ensure waste receives environmentally sound management, though there is no suggestion that exporters acted illegally. Some firms have stated they work exclusively with accredited partners or have discontinued shipments to the region. The Turkish government has not responded to requests for comment on the contamination findings.

Regulatory Questions

The UK government maintains that strict controls already apply to waste exports and that additional measures are being implemented to reduce reliance on overseas disposal. However, critics argue that Europe and the UK frequently relocate the most environmentally damaging stages of waste processing to nations with limited regulatory capacity, thereby shifting rather than eliminating overall pollution. The contamination of irrigation systems used by local agricultural producers suggests that environmental costs are being borne by communities with minimal involvement in the consumption patterns driving the waste.