Turkey is preparing new regulations aimed at reducing plastic pollution by banning the sale of several single-use plastic products, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday.

The regulation, drafted by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, is part of the government’s 2025–2028 National Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan and a broader roadmap targeting single-use plastics, marine litter and microplastics.

Officials say the measures are intended to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste and align Turkey’s policies with the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive adopted in 2019.

Products targeted for ban

Under the proposed rules, several commonly used disposable plastic items would be gradually removed from the market because of their contribution to environmental pollution.

These include plastic cutlery such as forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks, as well as plastic plates, straws, beverage cups and containers, plastic-stem cotton buds and food containers made from expanded polystyrene.

The ministry also plans to encourage the use of alternatives such as glass, porcelain, wood and cardboard to replace disposable plastic products.

Officials say removing the targeted products from the market could prevent around 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions each year while saving approximately 1.5 billion Turkish lira in waste management costs.

The government is also considering additional measures to curb plastic consumption, including restrictions and labeling requirements for products that partially contain plastic, such as beverage cups and food containers, shopping bags, wet wipes and surface cleaning wipes.

Similar restrictions have already been introduced across much of Europe under the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive.

France has gone beyond the directive with broader bans and higher recycling targets, while Germany has incorporated the rules into national law and created a “Single-Use Plastics Fund” financed by producers to support environmental projects.

Spain has banned several disposable plastic products and introduced a tax on plastic packaging, and the Netherlands began charging fees for certain single-use items in 2023 while phasing out others starting in 2024.

Several other EU countries, including Ireland, Italy and Greece, have also introduced bans or additional charges to reduce plastic consumption.

Plastic consumption in Turkey

According to official data, Turkey consumed 709,348 tons of single-use plastic products in 2022.

This included 155,935 tons of plastic beverage bottles, 120,000 tons of plastic cups, 63,000 tons of food containers, 32,406 tons of plastic cutlery, 25,584 tons of plastic plates, 10,234 tons of straws, 5,117 tons of plastic stirrers and 2,858 tons of cotton bud sticks.

International criticism over waste imports

Although Turkey is considering measures to reduce single-use plastics, the country has also faced international criticism over its role as a major destination for plastic waste exports from Europe.

An analysis by the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found that since 2018 Turkey has become one of the main destinations for Europe’s plastic waste exports after China restricted such imports. According to the report, a significant share of plastic waste previously sent to China has been redirected to Turkey.

The report argues that weak enforcement, fragmented regulations and corruption risks may make Turkey vulnerable to both legal and illegal waste shipments.

It also raises concerns that some shipments labeled as recyclable plastic may actually contain mixed, contaminated or low-quality materials that are difficult to recycle.

Investigators in some cases reported evidence that imported plastic waste had been dumped in open areas, burned or improperly stored, potentially posing environmental and health risks.

Similar concerns have been highlighted in international media. According to an investigation by The Guardian last year, environmental groups and field researchers found evidence that some imported plastic waste had ended up in illegal dumping sites or had been burned, releasing pollutants into the air.

Researchers also warned that weak monitoring and gaps in waste tracking systems make it difficult to ensure that all imported waste is properly recycled.

Turkey denies the allegations, saying some reports contained misleading or manipulative claims.

Officials said waste imports are subject to strict regulations and that only recyclable materials suitable for licensed recycling facilities are allowed into the country.