Brazil has charged $419,000 in fines to import companies Stefenon Estrategia e Marketing, Bes Assessoria e Comercio Exterior and Alphatec for their attempted illegal importing of some 1,600 tons of waste. The assorted waste containers arrived in Brazilian ports in 89 shipping containers in November and are filled with rotting food products, diapers, medical waste, cleaning product containers, and computer parts, among other items.
The Brazilian companies that received the waste claimed they were expecting recycled plastic.
Brazilian environmental agency IBAMA is seeking to fine the British companies for the costs of properly dealing with the waste. Ingrid Oberg, who leads IBAMA in Santos, stated, “If they don’t send the rubbish back they will be fined (a daily rate) until this is resolved.”
