Environment

Brazil anger over toxic UK waste

by Babel-Fish | July 16, 2009 at 09:41 pm

152 views | 34 Recommendations | 4 comments

Brazilian police are investigating after 64 containers with more than 1,400 tonnes of hazardous UK waste were found in three of the country's ports.

The authorities say that among the material which was brought in illegally they discovered batteries, syringes, condoms and nappies.

Since the initial discovery, another 25 containers with hospital waste were found, also apparently from England.

In a statement the British Embassy in Brazil promised "immediate steps".

This is outragous, how the hell did it pass through UK customs, someone in the NHS is not checking where the hazardous hospital waste is being desposed. Why send this stuff across the world?

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sara star

at 03:58 on July 17th, 2009

This must not be allowed.

Spydermonkey

at 05:48 on July 17th, 2009

This is SUCH a WaStE of energy, to haul trash half way around the world, when most of it could probably be recycled or incinerated at the hospital & the waste heat reused. I know some of the old hospitals where I grew up did this. (new reg's may make it more difficult though.)

Amy Judd

at 10:34 on July 17th, 2009

This is terrible

Scott Wu

at 10:22 on July 23rd, 2009

An update to the story:

The UK officals arrested 3 men responsible, and is working with Brazil for the return of the waste. In UK, the maximum penalty for such offense is an unlimited fine or two years in prison.

UK officials investigating an illegal shipment of 1,400 tonnes of toxic waste to Brazil have made three arrests.

Environment Agency officers and police raided three properties in the Swindon area, arresting men aged 24, 28 and 49.

The UK is working with Brazil to return the contents of 99 containers to Britain. The waste reportedly includes syringes, condoms and bags of blood.