EU threatens to suspend plastic waste exports to Turkey

The European Commission has warned it may suspend exports of plastic waste to Turkey unless Ankara addresses pollution problems identified in a Commission assessment dated 1 September 2026. Turkey received 510,000 tonnes of EU plastic waste last year, 36% of all EU plastic waste exports and 70% of exports to OECD countries, with only around 10% recycled domestically. The Commission has for now opted to engage with Turkish authorities rather than trigger a suspension procedure under the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.

Why this mattersTurkey is the EU's largest plastic waste outlet; a suspension would strand volumes just as a ban on non-OECD exports takes effect on 21 November 2026, tightening the region's recycling capacity.

• Commission assessment dated 1 September 2026 found evidence Turkey's plastic waste treatment could breach EU rules
• Turkey imported 510,000 tonnes of EU plastic waste in 2025, 36% of all EU plastic waste exports and 70% of exports to OECD countries
• Only around 10% of plastic waste is recycled in Turkey, with the rest landfilled, mismanaged or leaked into the environment
• EU export ban to non-OECD countries takes effect from 21 November 2026, which could redirect more waste to Turkey
• The Commission has opted to engage with Turkish authorities for now rather than suspend exports immediately
• A list of non-OECD countries seeking exemptions from the export ban is due to be published in the coming days, with the Commission required to adopt it by November 2026

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