# Investigation: UK plastic waste exports polluting Turkish farmland

An investigation found that plastic waste shipped from the UK to Turkey is being illegally burned or dumped, contaminating soil and water in the Cukurova agricultural region. This exposes the environmental and health damage of "waste colonialism," threatening food safety and local communities.

**Importance:** 4/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/04/uk-plastic-waste-colonialism-recycling-exports-contaminating-water-crops-turkey) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:18 GMT