The suspicion has been further deepened: all is not 'clean' about developed nations sending their waste to developing countries for the stated reason of cheaper recycling. The first batch of over 50 containers of Britain's "clean waste paper", being sent to China, is being returned home after being intercepted in the Netherlands. The consignment contained plastic packaging, batteries, drink cans, old clothes, carrier bags and wood, the daily Guardian said. The Netherlands is returning it to the company Grosvenor Waste (gw) in Kent, the uk, which sent the shipment. The uk's Environment Agency is investigating the matter. It has stopped gw from sending another lot to China. But it is divided about gw's guilt in describing the waste as "green".
Eighteen containers of waste are also coming back to the uk from Indonesia. Environment minister Elliot Morley says the government is viewing the matter seriously. Exporting "co-mingled" waste needs a licence that can cost up to us $84,704; clean waste export is free.
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