The Environment Agency will be organising the fumigation of the containers before undertaking a full investigation of their contents. Once evidence has been gathered, the Environment Agency will then ensure that the waste is safely dealt with by an appointed contractor. The fumigation process is expected to last a week.
The shipping lines contracted to transport the containers from the UK to Brazil agreed to repatriate the containers to the UK at their own expense.
Investigation
Earlier this month, officers from the Environment Agency's National Environmental Crime Team raided premises in Swindon with assistance from Wiltshire Police, who arrested a 49-year old man, a 28-year old man and a 24-year old man in connection to the Environment Agency's ongoing enquiry into the alleged illegal shipment of waste to Brazil (see letsrecycle.com story).
Andrew Higham, head of the Environment Agency's National Environment Crime Unit, said: “Our investigation into the alleged export of waste from the UK to Brazil will continue with the return of the containers back to the UK.
“The United Kingdom has taken a strong global lead to stamp out the illegal waste trade, in order to protect people and the environment. We are not going to allow our waste to be dumped on developing countries,” he added.
The containers are set to be fumigated due to the waste having been stored in the containers for an extensive period. After the fumigation the Agency will carry out an investigation of the contents to help gather evidence for its ongoing enquiry into the source of this waste.
A number of major waste management and recycling companies in the UK last week (August 13) distanced themselves from the Brazilian waste case (see letsrecycle.com).
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