British firm admits illegal Brazil waste shipment

A British company Thursday admitted it illegally exported 89 containers holding 15,000 tonnes of household waste to Brazil. London firm Edwards Waste Paper pleaded guilty to transporting waste against Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development regulations during a hearing at the Old Bailey court. Director Simon Edwards and Jonathan Coombe admitted similar counts and are due to be sentenced at a later date. Julio Da Costa and Juliano Da Costa, who are alleged to have arranged the shipment, pleaded not guilty and will face trial in October. Brazilian authorities discovered the illegal shipment, which was described as mixed plastics, on a quayside three years ago. The haul was later repatriated to Britain and fumigated on its return to Felixstowe docks in southeast England. "Illegal waste exports risk harm to human health and the environment in the country of export," said Andy Higham, head of the Environment Agency's national crime team. "It also undermines law-abiding recycling businesses back home," he added.