Import limit on waste paper was a lie

While it is frequently voiced that Türkiye needs to close its growing foreign exchange deficit, high imports continue in almost every field. An example of this is the waste paper sector. While 1.16 million tons of waste paper was imported into Türkiye in 2023, this figure increased to 1.5 million tons in 2024. England again ranks first in Türkiye's waste paper imports with a share of 24 percent, followed by Iraq with a share of 23 percent. Turkey, which has been criticized for being Europe's garbage dump for years, has now started to import waste even from the Middle East.

EMPHASIS ON AUDIT

In contrast, the publishing sector in Türkiye complains about not being able to sell waste paper. With the sale of Türkiye's paper mill SEKA, the publishing sector, which buys paper in foreign currency, wants to relieve its high costs with scrap paper, which is an important source of income, but imported scrap paper dominates the market. Newspapers, magazines and publishing houses that continue their publications under difficult conditions in the country said, "While our warehouses are full of waste paper, recycling companies' love for imports does not end." It is stated in the sector that despite the ministry's warnings on the subject and the 50 percent import limit, paper recycling companies meet almost all of their needs from imports, and the lack of control is emphasized.