Despite committing to become a "zero waste" nation, Turkey has become a dumping ground for Europe’s plastic waste, with dire consequences for local farmers and the environment. Alexander Clapp reports on how much of the imported plastic is either burned, dumped illegally, or converted into low-quality goods.
Only there was one small problem with Turkey’s self-coronation as a zero-waste nation worthy of such international emulation. No sooner had Erdoğan announced her initiative than Turkey emerged as one of the biggest recipients – and one of the biggest dumpsites – of plastic waste anywhere on the planet.
For decades, Akman – a slim, middle-aged man with cheeks peppered by scraggly stubble – had, like generations of Akmans before him, made his living harvesting oranges and lemons and exporting them to Europe. Now Europe appeared to be sending its trash in the opposite direction, to the very edge of his citrus groves. Akman couldn’t help but be bemused by the occasional charred carton of juice jutting out of the pile. “That might have been made with my oranges,” he told me …