MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil to complain UK “dumping” of 1.000 tons of hazardous waste

The toxic trash in 89 containers included hospital waste and batteries

The Brazilian government said it will lodge a formal complaint with the World Trade Organisation over shipments of more than 1,000 tons of hazardous waste which arrived from Britain

Brazil will base its complaint on the Basel Convention, which bans shipments of toxic waste from industrialised nations. The toxic trash arrived in 89 shipping containers labelled as recyclable plastic between February and May.

The containers held domestic and hospital waste, including batteries, used syringes, condoms, old medicine and soiled nappies, according to the environmental agency IBAMA.

The UK's environment agency said three men - aged 24, 28 and 49 - had been arrested after raids near Swindon as part of “ongoing investigations”.

The identities of the men, who face unlimited fines and up to two years in jail if convicted, were not disclosed “for legal reasons”.

Liz Parkes, head of waste and resource management, said in a statement the agency was “working with the shipping lines for the return of the waste, at their own expense”.