The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has helped identify large-scale trafficking of textile waste from Italy to Türkiye.
The textiles in question contain a high percentage of acrylic fibres, which are non-biodegradable and lasts in the environment for as long as 200 years.
“They require specific recycling technology and are subject to strict and expensive recycling rules,” OLAF said in a press release.
In cooperation with the Italian police, OLAF studied the availability of this technology and combined it with analysis of trade flows and customs data to identify several shipments that were mislabelled to avoid the more expensive recycling requirements.
Collaborating closely with the Turkish customs authorities, OLAF ensured that for these suspicious shipments were inspected upon arrival in Türkiye.
Around 4,200 tons of textile waste was identified as having been illegally shipped from Italy to Türkiye.
OLAF also took part in an on-the-spot inspection organised by the Turkish authorities alongside police and specialists from the Tuscany regional environmental protection agency (ARPAT) from Italy.
Nearly 2,100 tons of textiles were discovered during the inspection, stocked in a warehouse owned by a Turkish recycling facility that was not managed in accordance with applicable Turkish environmental regulations and permit requirements.
A further 768 tons of textile waste originating from Italy and connected to the same fraudulent scheme were found stored in the Turkish port of Mersin, also incorrectly labeled.
“Schemes such as this one that offer ways to illegally avoid the cost of recycling certain kinds of textile waste or complying with environmental rules are an opportunity for organised networks to make illegal gains,” Petr Klement, Director-General of OLAF said.
“The threat to our economy and our environment is both real and massive. OLAF’s work is crucial in tracking down these shipments and working with national authorities in and around Europe to detect and seize the waste and helping to take down these criminal organisations,” Klement added.
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