Indonesia sending back 547 containers of waste from West

Indonesia is sending 547 containers of waste back to Western nations after finding they were contaminated with used plastic and hazardous materials.

Customs official Heru Pambudi said nine containers with 135 tons of waste were sent back to Australia on Wednesday.

They were among 156 containers held in Tangerang port that will be returned soon to the U.S., New Zealand, Spain, Belgium and Britain.

Pambudi said the government has stopped more than 2,000 containers in several ports since July. So far it has sent back a total of 331 which will be followed by 216 others.

He said authorities are still investigating the rest, amid a growing backlash in Southeast Asia against being a dumping ground for the developed world’s rubbish.