UK plastic dumpsites in Turkey contaminated with toxic chemicals, says Greenpeace
TOXIC plastic rubbish from the UK is being illegally dumped in Turkey, say campaigners.
A Greenpeace campaigner investigates a waste pile in Adana/Seyhan,Turkey.
Five sites in the south of the country are "extensively contaminated" with hazardous pollutants, Greenpeace has said. Toxins associated with plastic, or the burning of it, were identified in ash and soil samples.
Scientist Dr Kevin Brigden said: "Many of the chemical pollutants found are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment and can build up in animals and humans over time."
Megan Randles, at Greenpeace UK, called the dumping Britain's "toxic fingerprint".
She said: "This should spur the Government on to do the right thing and ban plastic waste exports."
The UK exported 117,678 tons to Turkey from January to November 2021, Greenpeace said.