Dutch impounding of Irish waste turns spotlight on China trade

THE controversy over Ireland’s export of waste to China took another twist over the weekend when it emerged a shipment had to be impounded in Rotterdam last month because it was contaminated.

The six containers holding 127 tonnes of plastic was dispatched from Cork to China for recycling in early January. However, it was stopped by officials in the Netherlands on January 6 following a tip-off.

Customs officials found the plastic was covered in soil.