Brazil has levied fines on UK companies that were found to have sent over 1,400 tonnes of waste to the South American country, officials reported late last week.
In all, six companies were involved in transporting and importing the waste, which included items such as syringes and used baby nappies and condoms. They were fined $US1.3 million in total, according to a statement released by Brazil’s environment ministry.
The UK has been reported by Brazil the top international body responsible for the regulation of hazardous waste, a Geneva-based Brazilian diplomat said.
Carlos Minc, Brazil’s environment minister, asked: “How is it possible for countries that say they are doing everything to protect the environment … to do this, to send their domestic, chemical and industrial garbage to poor and developing countries to be burned or buried?”
A few days ago, UK began to repatriate the 89 containers of waste for appropriate disposal. In addition, authorities arrested three Britons based in Swindon, where the waste shipments originated.
Over a period of several months, the waste was imported into Brazil, labeled improperly as plastic for recycling.
When Brazilian officials opened the containers they found discarded batteries, food waste, used cleaning products and cloths, syringes and used nappies and condoms.
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