News And Information Online

Brazilians are furious over 1,400 tonnes of British garbage arriving at its ports. The stinking waste included toilet seats, dirty diapers, leaking batteries and used syringes. The rotting cargo arrived in 64 different containers at three Brazilian ports earlier this year. It was destined for Brazilian waste recycling companies. The recyclers were angry over the contents as they were expecting only recyclable plastic. Brazil has demanded that Britain take back its rubbish. Roberto Messias of Brazil’s environment protection agency said: "We will ask for the repatriation of this garbage….Clearly, Brazil is not the rubbish dump of the world." Messias made it clear the importing companies would receive heavy fines.

The British Embassy in Brasilia released a statement saying it was investigating the case. Officials said Britain “would not hesitate to act” if any British company had broken international laws. Both Brazil and Britain signed up to the Basel Convention on the movement of hazardous and toxic waste in 1992. The embassy said: "The UK takes a strong global lead on protection of the environment and the safeguarding of human health, and will do all it can to stamp out the illegal trade in waste.” Public anger over the issue increased when the police found thousands of dirty toys in a container with a note in Portuguese that said: “These toys should be washed before being given to poor Brazilian children.”

www.breakingnewsenglish.com