Environment Agency confirms Brazil waste ship breached law

The Environment Agency today confirmed that the shipment of waste containers at the centre of a recent row between Brazil and the UK had breached international regulations.

The Agency said it has now examined 14 of the 81 containers that were returned to the UK this summer after Brazilian authorities alleged they were carrying landfill waste that can not be exported from one country to the other under the Basel Convention.

The waste had been classified as mixed plastics, which under international law can be shipped to certain countries for recycling.

But the Agency said its investigation has found a high proportion of waste that was not suitable for recycling, including nappies, wellington boots, torn and dirty textiles, cat food pouches and rotting cardboard, all of which will now be kept as evidence.

Three men have already been arrested in connection with the enquiry and the Agency said that the latest evidence marked a "significant development" in its investigation.

"Waste in this state is clearly not suitable for recycling and should never have been exported," said Andrew Higham, head of the Agency's National Environment Crime Unit. "This is completely unacceptable and we will not allow this type of waste to be sent to developing countries."