Plastics packaging waste management and regulations Turkey versus Europe

Abstract

Plastics are used almost everywhere and making our lives much easier thanks to their multiple functionalities. However, due to inadequate production and recycling methods, millions tons of plastic litter are ending up in the earth and oceans every year. The European Union is taking necessary actions to make an impact and to be able to overcome that problem. In 2015, the EU Commission adopted an 'Action Plan' for a circular economy of plastics. In 2017, the EU Commission declared another goal of ensuring all plastic packagings will be recyclable by 2030. In comparison to the EU, as a big contributor of plastics waste in the region, Turkey's actions were also wondered and so, Turkish plastics waste management system and related regulations have been examined, as well as the European Union's. Primarily, it has been investigated that the current Turkish waste management regulations are mostly compatible with the European Union ones, as Turkey is adapting its regulations according to the EU requirements. The significant difference between the examined Turkish and the EU regulations was the recycling target ratios for plastic packagings. While Turkish regulation on management of packaging waste was obliged to recyclate min 54% (until 2020) of the plastic packaging waste, the mandatory ratio according to the EU's packaging waste directive was only 22.5% (until 2025). According to the latest data reached, Turkey was recycling 54% of its total plastic packaging waste occurred in 2017 which was equal to the given target. On the other hand, the EU was recycling 40.8% of its total plastic packaging waste occurred in 2016 and that was much higher than their given target ratio. By considering only the recent 'plastic packagings waste' recycling ratios, it can be interpreted that Turkey's recycling performance is better than the EU average. However, considering both current Turkish and the EU's plastics waste management practices and results, even though there are good plans for the future, it can be concluded that their ...