Turkey Implements Harsh Restrictions on Plastic Bags

Article Written By: Kyle Kyungwon Park

Turkey is trying their very best to break apart this unfavorable addiction to plastics, implementing a law next year that will bring upon specific charges with regards to free plastic bags in stores. Not only is the government protesting, yet Tuba Unsal, a Turkish celebrity, has also participated in the movement to eradicate the rising predicament by encouraging the use of her own designed alternative bag for different uses.

The nation currently ranks 108th out of 180 in an evaluation of environmental fulfillment by Yale Centre for Environmental Law and Policy. Moreover, shocking statistics show that 440 plastic bags are used per person every year in Turkey.

Murat Kurum, Turkey’s minister of Environment and Urbanisation, guaranteed that obligatory costs for plastic bag at supermarkets will soon become visible. Under new measures, stores are required to sell the bags for about 4 pence, or come across a fine. Nevertheless, no deadline has been set to fully make this plan come true.

Apart from this significant plastic bag outline, distinctive perceptions about the dangers of plastic has been promoted by the Istanbul municipality. The city has gradually started to let public transportation riders pay for trips with empty plastic bottles.

All in all, civilians that are putting in small but influential changes understand that “we won’t have a society if we destroy the environment” as Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, stated.

Bibliography (MLA 8 FORMAT):

Website Citations:

Website 1:

Borzou Daragahi Istanbul. “Turkey to Launch Groundbreaking Restrictions on Plastic Bags.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 10 Dec. 2018, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-plastic-bags-ban-law-supermarkets-apk-pollution-waste-government-a8676221.html.

Website 2:

Laville, Sandra. “Turkey's Plastic Waste Imports from the UK Are Booming – but at What Cost?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 18 Oct. 2018, www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/18/uk-plastic-waste-imports-to-turkey-boom-but-at-what-cost.

Photo Citations:

Photo 1:

Collett, Michael. “How Are Australians Coping in This Brave New Plastic-Bag-Free World?” Mogaz News En, Mogaz News En, 3 July 2018, en.mogaznews.com/collection/954506/How-are-Australians-coping-in-this-brave-new-plastic-bag-free-world.html.