The Center for Countering Disinformation of the Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications has strongly refuted allegations made by The Guardian in an article titled “Türkiye said it would become a ‘zero waste’ nation. Instead, it became a dumping ground for Europe’s rubbish.”

In an official statement, the Center accused the UK-based newspaper of publishing misleading claims designed to manipulate public perception. The article alleged that Türkiye's "Zero Waste" initiative had led to an excessive importation of plastic waste, resulting in an environmental crisis due to insufficient recycling controls.

The statement emphasized that Türkiye’s regulations strictly allow only the importation of clean, recyclable plastic waste, explicitly banning mixed and hazardous waste. Imported recyclable materials are required to contain no more than 1% foreign material, and rigorous inspections are conducted at customs and waste management facilities.

"Customs and facilities implement rigorous inspections, and any waste deemed unsuitable for import is returned to the country of origin," the statement read. It further noted that Türkiye employs a mobile tracking system, MoTAT (Mobile Hazardous Waste Transportation), to monitor waste from customs to recycling facilities, ensuring full oversight of the process.

Between January 2021 and February 2025, Turkish authorities conducted 29,126 inspections on waste disposal and recycling facilities. These resulted in 1,898 administrative sanctions, 227 facility suspensions, and fines exceeding 913 million Turkish Liras.

The Guardian’s report also alleged that fertile land in Adana had been turned into a dumping ground for hazardous waste, including materials from the UK. However, the Turkish government dismissed these claims as outdated and unsubstantiated.

In response to similar allegations in previous years, seven inspection teams conducted comprehensive surveys of the Adana region, but found no evidence of illegal waste disposal. Soil samples collected from 11 locations were tested, and no harmful substances that could endanger human health or the environment were detected.

Additionally, the statement reiterated that Türkiye prohibits not only the disposal of imported recyclable waste but also the dumping and incineration of domestic waste in a manner harmful to the environment. Any remaining recycling waste is either transferred to another facility for further processing or sent to a licensed disposal site.

The Turkish government also took issue with the article’s criticism of First Lady Emine Erdoğan and the Zero Waste Movement. The initiative, launched in 2017 under the patronage of the First Lady and overseen by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, has received multiple international awards for its impact on sustainability and waste management.

The Zero Waste Movement has been recognized with the Zero Waste, Zero Hunger award from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2018, the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals Award from the United Nations Development Programme in 2021, and the Waste Wise Cities Global Champion Award from UN-Habitat the same year. In 2022, it received the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean Award (PAW) and the Climate and Development Leadership Award from the World Bank.

According to data from September 2024, the Zero Waste Movement has led to the recycling of 59.9 million tonnes of waste, including 29.3 million tonnes of paper and cardboard, 7.8 million tonnes of plastic, 2.9 million tonnes of glass, 3.7 million tonnes of metal, and 16.2 million tonnes of organic and other recyclable materials.

The project has resulted in significant environmental benefits, including the conservation of 498 million trees, 819 million cubic meters of water, and 127 million barrels of oil. Additionally, it has helped prevent 5.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, saved 104 million cubic meters of landfill space, and contributed 185 billion Turkish Liras to the national economy.

The statement concluded by accusing The Guardian of deliberately distorting facts under the pretext of environmental concern.

"Targeting such a beneficial project under the guise of ‘environmental sensitivity’ indicates a deliberate manipulation and propaganda campaign," the statement asserted.

As Türkiye continues its efforts to position itself as a global leader in sustainability and waste management, the dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between media narratives and government policies on environmental issues. (ILKHA)