Europe's trash pollutes Turkey's beaches
The gist
Europe sent Turkey a record 700,000-plus tons of plastic waste last year, found on Adana's beaches.
The pollution surfaces as Turkey hosts COP31 and promotes its own Zero Waste drive.
How it unfolded
- Aug 4, 2026A Guardian investigation found irrigation canals in Turkey polluted with microplastics, with the UK a major destination for waste exports; EU nations shipped over 503,000 metric tons of plastic waste to Turkey during 2025, with Britain sending 139,000 tons.
- Oct 19, 2026Bloomberg reported that last year the UK and EU sent nearly 650,000 metric tons of plastic waste to COP31 host Turkey, more than they sent anywhere else.
- Nov 4, 2026A study led by marine scientist Sedat Gündoğdu found microplastic levels in Alanya ranging from twice to 65 times the previous maximum concentrations documented, with much of the plastic bearing markings of industrial recycling.
Key terms
- COP31
- The 31st yearly meeting of parties to the UN climate treaty, where governments assess and negotiate climate action.
- microplastics
- Tiny plastic particles smaller than five millimetres that pollute ecosystems after entering them from many sources.
- European Commission
- The executive body of the European Union, made up of one commissioner per member state.
Source: Wikipedia