Brazil sends back toxic waste ship to Britain

More than 1,000 tonnes of toxic waste alleged to have been illegally exported from Britain to Brazil was delivered back to Suffolk today.

Brazilian authorities returned nearly 90 containers said to hold clinical waste, including used syringes and condoms. A cargo ship carrying 71 of the containers docked at Felixstowe this morning with the rest to follow. The cargo must be fumigated, a process that will take a week, before Environment Agency investigators can inspect it.

The shipment is at the centre of an investigation by the agency's National Environmental Crime Unit after Brazilian officials claimed it arrived in three ports labelled as recyclable plastic.

Last month inspectors raided a Swindon property and arrested Julio da Costa, 49, a director of Worldwide Biorecyclables, his son Juliano, 24, and a partner, Andre de Oliveira, 28, on suspicion of breaking environmental rules. They were bailed without charge.

The firm said its staff were so overwhelmed with work that they failed to check the containers. The watchdog's head Andrew Higham said today: "The agency takes this very seriously. The United Kingdom has taken a strong global lead to stamp out the illegal waste trade. We are not going to allow our waste to be dumped on developing countries."

The investigation has reportedly been widened to two more companies. It is understood that Edwards Recycling in Essex and AWM Recycling in the West Midlands are being questioned over their role in supplying, baling and packing recyclable plastics for Worldwide Biorecyclables. There is no evidence that any of the waste sent to Brazil came from these two businesses

It is illegal to export waste for disposal, but it can be sent abroad for recycling. The maximum penalty for unlawfully exporting waste is an unlimited fine or up to two years in prison.