Environment Agency to investigate Brazilian garbage ship

The Environment Agency has confirmed that it has launched a formal investigation after allegations from Brazilian authorities that a ship currently being held at the port of Santos near Sao Paulo was used to illegally export waste from the UK.

The ship, which had set out from Felixstowe, was meant to be carrying 1,200 tonnes of recyclable plastics, but Brazilian port officials found that it contained waste including hundreds of tonnes of household and hazardous waste, including dirty nappies, used syringes and old computer components.

The shipment appears to be in violation of the Basel Convention on the movement of hazardous waste, which requires countries to dispose of toxic and landfill waste within their own borders.

A spokeswoman for the UK Environment Agency said that a full investigation into the shipment had been launched.

"The Environment Agency has sought to contact Brazilian authorities after being alerted to possible illegal waste export from the UK," she said. "As the competent authority for enforcing Transfrontier Shipping Regulations in England and Wales, the Environment Agency has launched an investigation to ascertain the facts of this case and to determine if an offence has been committed."

She added that if the investigation finds evidence of illegal activity, the Agency will take legal action and instigate measures to ensure the waste is disposed of safely, including the possible return of the shipment to the UK.

"The UK is completely against illegal trade of any kind and has taken a strong global lead to stamp out the illegal trade in waste in order to protect the environment and human health," she said. "Where any company is found to have contravened the strict controls on the export of waste as set out by the Basel Convention, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to take enforcement action. "

Roberto Messias, the president of Brazilian environment agency IBAMA, told Sky News that the UK government had been contacted to request that it take back the waste. He added that fines had been imposed on the import companies involved with the shipment.