EU Maintained Plastic Waste Exports to Turkey
Businesses involved in plastic waste management should monitor evolving EU export controls after the European Commission authorized continued shipments.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in International Trade
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The European Commission has authorized the continuation of plastic waste shipments to Turkey, which received 510,000 tonnes of EU waste in 2025. This decision maintains a key trade channel that accounts for 36% of all EU plastic waste exports.
Why it matters
The decision provides regulatory certainty for waste logistics firms, though it reflects ongoing scrutiny of recycling outcomes where only an estimated 10% of imported material is processed. Operators must account for potential supply chain disruptions as the EU prepares to tighten future export controls.
Turkey accounted for 36% of total EU plastic waste exports and 70% of shipments to OECD countries in 2025. Stakeholders estimate only 10% of this material is actually recycled, with significant amounts reportedly leaking into the environment.
The players
European Commission
The executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and enforcing regulatory standards across member states.
The details
The European Commission reached this decision after reviewing Turkey's updated legal framework and environmental enforcement standards. Despite these improvements, the commission noted that limited information exists regarding how waste is processed on the ground. Consequently, much of the material is reported to be sent to landfill rather than being recycled into new products.
Timeline
Turkey imported 510,000 tonnes of EU plastic waste during 2025.
The European Commission decided to continue these shipments in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This decision follows the patterns established under the OECD's waste trade regulations governing the movement of materials between member nations. It marks a temporary extension of existing trade flows while the EU signals a move toward stricter oversight of international waste management.
Logistics providers and waste management firms should prepare for shifts in regulatory compliance as the EU moves toward tighter controls on exports. Operators should diversify their end-of-life disposal channels to mitigate potential cost increases if these international routes are restricted.
The takeaway
The EU's continued reliance on Turkish waste processing highlights the ongoing gap between official export policy and actual recycling rates. Businesses should monitor upcoming regulatory amendments that may limit or mandate higher documentation standards for international waste shipments.
Further reading
For more information on current cross-border policy, visit International Trade.
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Should the EU continue exporting plastic waste to other nations despite environmental concerns?
