Polish authorities have found 220 tonnes of non-recyclable waste that was allegedly transported “illegally” from the UK to Poland.
According to media reports, 150 tonnes of the waste had already been deposited in Bogaczew, a town in the northeast of Poland, and another 70 tonnes were set to be transported.
The waste, made up mostly of unrecyclable materials such as cartons, bottle tops or aluminium foil, had been reportedly brought into Poland under the guise of being taken for recycling, according to a representative of the police in Elblag, which investigated the case.
Polish and UK authorities are cooperating on the case, according to reports.
Seventy tonnes of the waste have already been returned to the UK at the expense of the UK. The rest of the waste is also scheduled to be returned.
We are working with the Polish authorities to investigate the circumstances around these particular exports and will take appropriate action to hold those responsible for the exports to account, should there be any evidence of wrong-doing, and ensure any illegally exported waste is repatriated to the UK
Under Polish law, the illegal transport or depositing of waste is punishable with up to five years imprisonment.
According to the Daily Mail, an Environment Agency spokesperson said: “The illegal export of waste is a crime and we will not hesitate to take action against those responsible with offenders facing either a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine.
“We are working with the Polish authorities to investigate the circumstances around these particular exports and will take appropriate action to hold those responsible for the exports to account, should there be any evidence of wrong-doing, and ensure any illegally exported waste is repatriated to the UK.”
The story comes after the Malaysian Government announced in January it will be sending a further 42 containers of waste back to the UK after they were allegedly brought into the country “illegally”.