In addition to global climate change, global ecological destruction threatens the life of living species. While living species pass through an unprecedented destruction process on a global scale, environmental pollution and plastic wastes lead the planet to extinction. The recent red list data, which the International Nature Conservation Association has recently released, reveals the seriousness of the situation with all its clarity. The report emphasized that more than 46 thousand of 166 thousand species are in danger of extinction and show that wildlife populations decreased by an average of 69 percent. “In fresh water species, this decrease has reached a striking level of 83 percent.
Climate stress is increasing
According to the latest ecology reports, Türkiye’s biological wealth and the narrowing habitats of local species are rapidly melting under the pressure of increasing climate stress and human activities. Many species such as sea turtles, tournas and wild bees are threatened by the use of construction and agricultural pesticides. Tuz Lake, Burdur Lake and the withdrawal rates of Lake Manyas are increasing every year, while the invading species spread through the Suez Canal in the Mediterranean, putting pressure on indigenous sea creatures.
Grave painting
On the other hand, another important problem for Türkiye is plastic waste sent from the European Union countries under the name of recycling. Plastic waste exports from the European Union countries to Türkiye was 10 million kilograms per month in January 2023, this figure reached 44 million kilograms in November 2024. This amount means 257 truck full of plastic waste per day. When viewed throughout the year, the table is even more striking; During 2024 A total of 425 million kilograms of plastic waste was sent to Türkiye, while most of the plastic wastes were ‘high -density polyethylene and’ low -density polyethylene ‘species.
EU’s capacity problem
The countries that send the most plastic waste among EU countries are listed as Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain. While Germany prefers export instead of recycling due to strict environmental laws and high labor costs, Belgium and Italy; He is experiencing capacity problems in waste management. Spain continues to eliminate its agricultural packaging waste in countries such as Türkiye.
It transforms 30 percent
The “waste relationship” between Türkiye and the EU brings not only environmental, but also the standard debates of social justice and double. Turkish citizens, EU countries are kept for months to get a visa, while the plastic wastes from Europe pass through customs without any delay. Former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. Dr. Mustafa Öztürk pointed out that the recycling of plastic wastes in EU countries is extremely expensive, “According to the field reports of NGOs and environmental organizations, 20 percent to 30 percent of imported plastics are burned without recycling or left to wild storage. This increases air, water and soil pollution. However, it is also claimed that some companies operating in the recycling sector have imported above capacity “.
More waste will come
Stating that the European Union approved the Waste Shipment Regulation in 2024. Dr. Ozturk, in the continuation of his warnings, says: “However, this arrangement will come into force on November 21, 2026 and plastic waste exports will be banned to non -OECD countries. Turkey is an OECD country, because it does not fall within the scope of the prohibition.
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