From January 1, the European Union banned exports of non-recyclable plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The UK, which left the EU’s single market and customs union on December 31, will continue the practice, despite Tory commitments that post-Brexit regulations would not undermine environmental standards, the British newspaper said.
The country, which is the second-biggest producer of plastic waste after the United States, will now reportedly export plastic waste under a procedure of prior informed consent, in accordance with which the importer can agree or disagree to take in such shipments.
Greenpeace political campaigner Sam Chetan-Welsh, quoted by the newspaper, slammed the UK government for creating a "loophole to allow the dumping of our plastic trash on environments and communities" in poorer countries, arguing that "this is not leadership, it’s failing to do the bare minimum."