Turkey's Zafer Party calls for complete ban on plastic waste imports

A senior official from Turkey's Zafer Party has demanded an immediate cessation of plastic and mixed waste imports, citing the escalating environmental crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. Aslan, who heads the party's Environment, Urbanization and Culture Policies, stated that plastic pollution is not merely an environmental issue but a crisis that directly affects public health, food security, agricultural production, fishing, tourism, and employment.

"The Mediterranean is not a waste dump. Turkey is not obligated to cover the waste management deficit of other countries," Aslan declared, emphasizing that plastic and mixed waste imports must be completely stopped. He also called for existing facilities to undergo independent and transparent inspections.

Aslan pointed to the microplastic pollution observed on the Mersin coastline as clear evidence that dumped waste does not disappear. He questioned the conditions under which ships dispose of their waste, whether it is ground up and discharged at sea, and the extent of oversight for these activities. He warned that every piece of plastic entering the Mediterranean eventually breaks down into smaller particles, re-entering the human food chain through marine life, drinking water, and seafood.

Citing United Nations Environment Programme data, Aslan revealed that approximately 730 tons of plastic waste enter the Mediterranean daily. Plastics constitute at least 95% of surface debris and over half of the waste on the seabed in the region. He cautioned that failing to take action now will lead to a more severe food and public health crisis in the future.