A recycling company has been fined for illegally exporting thousands of tonnes of household waste from Scotland, in the biggest single case of its kind.

An investigation by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) uncovered the illicit activity which involved 1300 tonnes of waste contaminated with used nappies, dog excrement, jewellery, toys and more.

SEPA officers discovered what was supposed to be waste paper bales on Saica Natur UK Limited’s Croy site.

When investigators from the regulator’s compliance unit returned the next day to investigate further, they picked over the bales and found a high level of household waste.

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