Page 34 - TURKRptSept19

Imports
234
18
223
-5
117
-18
Capital Goods
33
-8
29
-12
15
-21
Intermediate
171
28
170
-1
92
-15
Consumption
28
2
23
-20
10
-34
source: tuik, trade ministry
Turkey’s monthly plastic waste imports jumped from 4,000 tonnes in 2016 to 33,000 tonnes last year and currently stand at around 42,000 tonnes, according to Turkey’s Sozcu newspaper. With plastic waste imports surging, the Ministry of Environment earlier in August decided to charge Turkish lira (TRY) 300 (€48) per tonne on imported waste to discourage trade. However, only a week later, the ministry annulled its decision in the face of objections from the Ministry of Industry. According to the newspaper, the TRY300 fee was annulled at the request of plastic waste importing companies. China was long known as the largest importer of plastic waste but when Beijing imposed restrictions, diverted materials, mostly originating from Europe, were channelled to other countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Poland. But eventually those countries also refused to take in large amounts of plastic waste, at which point Turkey became a new major destination. The newspaper claimed that only 30%-40% of the imported plastic waste is recyclable or reusable while the remaining 60%-70% is useless and probably toxic waste. Higher plastic waste imports also affect the income of 500,000 garbage pickers on the streets. “Garbage pickers used to make TRY100 a day
34 TURKEY Country Report September 2019 www.intellinews.com