Biffa found guilty of exporting banned waste again

The Environment Agency said on Monday that waste management company Biffa has been found guilty of exporting more than 1,000 tonnes of household waste to Asia.

An investigation by the agency prevented 16 25-tonne containers from onward export between Southampton and India and Indonesia in 2018 and 2019. Biffa was also convicted of exporting a further 26 containers that sailed before they could be stopped.

Wood Green court heard that various items such as soiled nappies, tins, hairpieces, plastics and food packaging were logged as paper at Biffa’s depot in north London. The jury did not accept Biffa’s argument that consignments leaving its premises complied with the law because they contained waste paper.

Malcolm Lythgo, head of waste regulation at the Environment Agency, said: "We are pleased with the court’s decision. We want all producers and waste companies to be responsible and make sure they only export material that can be legally and safely sent abroad for recycling.

"Illegal waste exports blight the lives and environment of those overseas. The Environment Agency will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those found to break the rules.

"We prevented the illegal export of almost 23,000 tonnes of unsuitable waste in 2019/20, and are working with the Government on a number of measures that would tighten controls. These include increased monitoring of international waste shipments, and charging higher fees to improve compliance."

In 2015, Biffa was fined £350,000 for shipping similar prohibited material to China.

The company will be sentenced on 30 July at Wood Green crown court.