Officials still looking into port toxic waste
Investigations into the contents of nearly 90 containers of toxic waste which were alleged to have been illegally exported from the UK to Brazil are still continuing today.
FELIXSTOWE: Investigations into the contents of nearly 90 containers of toxic waste which were alleged to have been illegally exported from the UK to Brazil are still continuing today.
After fumigating the boxes, workers started the laborious work of emptying them, cataloguing and testing all of the contents, so they know exactly what is inside.
All the data is being logged to build up evidence to see if there is a case for a prosecution.
The containers, which were shipped out to South America through Felixstowe port, were brought back to the UK two months ago on board the MSC Serena after authorities in Brazil opened them and found a range of items, some described as hazardous waste.
The boxes are said to contain items including clinical waste, bags of blood, condoms and syringes, as well as food and cleaning product containers, old clothes, shoes, newspapers, DVDs, pieces of computers, and plastics.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said workers were still investigating the boxes - which are understood to be at a yard in the Felixstowe port area - and examining the contents.
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“They are coming to the end of that work now and then officers will look at what has been found to see if it is appropriate to bring a prosecution,” she said.
“It is a complex case and we expect it to take some time yet as we need to ensure we have gathered all the evidence necessary for a decision to be made.”
Three men aged 49, 28 and 24 were arrested with the investigation into the alleged illegal shipment.
The Environment Agency said once evidence has been gathered, it will ensure the waste is safely dealt with by an appointed contractor.
