An environment agency officer was left physically sick after discovering bales of contaminated water while inspecting containers in Felixstowe.

Included in the waste were about 1,590 nappies or sanitary items, plus 1,338 electrical items and about 33,639 tins and cans.

Other contaminants included numerous items of clothing, textiles and rags, unopened plastic bags, glass, wood, golf balls, toys, a used toilet brush and contaminated food and drink cartons.

The discovery was made when inspectors looked at five of a batch of containers being exported to Indonesia but were taken to the Environment Agency's inspection facility at Felixstowe for a complete examination.

A court heard that one of the bales examined was so bad that an officer was physically sick.

Port of Felixstowe (Picture credit: Nub News)

Another 17 containers were found the port on July 4, 2019 where the total of 22 containers were recorded by officers as having significant evidence of contamination, flies and, in some containers, a rotting decomposing smell. The containers were deemed unfit for export at that stage and prevented from shipment to Indonesia.

A West Midlands waste boss was subsequently ordered to pay a total of £11,200 for exporting banned items. Tianyong Wang, 43, of Welcombe Grove, Solihull, admitted the offences at an earlier hearing and Kidderminster Magistrates' Court last week fined the 43-year-old director £1,200 and ordered him to pay costs of £10,000.

Shipping documents described the waste as plastic, which can be exported to Indonesia for recycling. But Howard McCann, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court that between June 27 and July 5 2019, Wang caused his company to export some 382 tonnes of household waste in 22 sea containers from its site in Droitwich via the ports of Felixstowe and Southampton to Indonesia.

Included in the waste were about 1,590 nappies or sanitary items, plus 1,338 electrical items and about 33,639 tins and cans. Other contaminants included numerous items of clothing, textiles and rags, unopened plastic bags, glass, wood, golf balls, toys, a used toilet brush and contaminated food and drink cartons.

Mr McCann told the court that the defendant was the sole director of Berry Polymer Limited, a company which was dissolved on August 24 2021.

Sham Singh, senior investigating officer for the Environment Agency, said: "This prosecution sends out a strong message that we will investigate and where necessary prosecute anyone found to be involved in illegally exporting waste. Waste crime can have a serious environmental impact and puts communities at risk. It undermines legitimate business and the investment and economic growth that goes with it.

"We support legitimate businesses and are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the illegal waste exports. If anyone suspects that a company is doing something wrong, please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."