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| Sri Lanka returns 'hazardous waste' to UK | Sri Lanka returns 'hazardous waste' to UK |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lanka says it is sending 21 containers of recycled waste back to the UK after they were found to contain hazardous material. | Sri Lanka says it is sending 21 containers of recycled waste back to the UK after they were found to contain hazardous material. |
| Customs officials said hospital waste, plastic and polythene was discovered in the majority of the 263 containers imported in 2017 by a private firm. | Customs officials said hospital waste, plastic and polythene was discovered in the majority of the 263 containers imported in 2017 by a private firm. |
| The shipment was meant to be made up of used mattresses, carpets and rugs. | The shipment was meant to be made up of used mattresses, carpets and rugs. |
| Most of the containers have been stored in warehouses, with only a small amount of material having been re-exported. | Most of the containers have been stored in warehouses, with only a small amount of material having been re-exported. |
| Legal action was taken after the Sri Lanka authorities impounded the material in 2018. | Legal action was taken after the Sri Lanka authorities impounded the material in 2018. |
| Officials said the 21 containers had left Sri Lanka on Saturday. | Officials said the 21 containers had left Sri Lanka on Saturday. |
| Customs spokesman Sunil Jayaratne said the original importation breached international and EU rules and regulations on hazardous waste and its disposal. | Customs spokesman Sunil Jayaratne said the original importation breached international and EU rules and regulations on hazardous waste and its disposal. |
| England's Environment Agency said it was committed to tackling illegal waste exports. | |
| An EA spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the Sri Lankan authorities and have requested more information which would allow us to launch a formal investigation." | |
| Several other countries in the region have recently begun to return waste imported from foreign countries. | Several other countries in the region have recently begun to return waste imported from foreign countries. |
| In January, Malaysia returned 42 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste to the UK. | In January, Malaysia returned 42 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste to the UK. |