LEGISLATION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF WASTES AND POSSIBLE IMPACT OF TURKEY'S PLASTIC WASTE IMPORT ON PLASTIC PRODUCT EXPORT

Abstract

One of the essential elements of the circular economy approach, accepted by many countries today, is “waste recycling” and its return to the economy. The adoption of waste as an economic value increases recycling activities within the country and causes waste export to appear as an intense international commercial activity. The study examined national and international legislation in the international trade of waste. Then glass, paper, cardboard, and plastic wastes, which are the most subject to international waste trade, were examined.  In recent years, Turkey's plastic waste import has rapidly increased. Although Turkey ranked 38th in the world in plastic waste imports with 7,806 tons in 2005, it increased to first place with 756,980 tons in 2020. In this context, the research on the effects of plastic waste plastic import on the economy has gained considerable importance.  In the study, a calculation was made in order to examine the effects of Turkey's 3915 HS coded waste plastic imports on the economy. Assuming that 60 percent of the imported plastic waste is converted into plastic products and all of them can be exported, the possible impact on the export of plastic products is calculated. In addition, sectoral employment data was examined and it was observed that the number of workers in the manufacture of plastic products and the number of workers in material recovery increased when the import of waste plastic started to increase in Turkey after 2010. Then, the results and suggestions for solving the problems in practice related to the import of waste plastic are given.