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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Karen McVeigh

Children as young as nine say they are ill from work recycling plastic in Turkey

Three young men stand with rakes amid a huge pile of plastic waste
A recycling plant in Antalya. Europe’s plastic waste exports to Turkey leapt after China banned imports in 2018. Last year the UK exported 122,898 tonnes to Turkey. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty

Children as young as nine are working in plastic waste recycling centres in Turkey, putting them at risk of serious and lifelong health conditions, according to Human Rights Watch.

Workers including children, and people living in homes located “dangerously close” to the centres, told researchers they were suffering from respiratory problems, severe headaches and skin ailments.

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