Four Questions Waiting for Answers on Plastic Waste Import

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Murat Bakan has brought the topic of plastic waste import to the agenda of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

Turkey's plastic waste import has increased fivefold between 2016 and 2018, according to a recent report by Greenpeace East Asia. 

Directing questions at Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, MP Bakan made quotations from Dr. Bülent Şık's article published on bianet on April 30, 2019:

"Academic Bülent Şık gives the following information on PVC (polyvinyl chloride): PVC is one of the main plastic wastes that threaten the environment and human life most, are hardest to store and are the costliest. Although burning is a method that is practiced in some countries, removing PVC waste by burning involves various problems because of the carcinogenic chemicals and the high amount of hydrochloric acid. Aside from being a very strong erosive substance, hydrochloric acid also causes acid rains."

Bakan directed four questions at the Minister:

"Why do the plastic wastes, which contain a number of dangerous chemicals and causes widespread pollution, are being imported to our country?

"How are the plastic wastes that are imported to our country used?

"What is the amount of the PVC-based plastic material among the plastic wastes that are imported to our country?

"How is the PVC-based plastic waste, which is costly to store and has a low recycle rate, is used by our country?" (HK/VK)