ROGUE firms are disregarding laws on waste disposal by dumping old plastic from Britain overseas, contributing to shocking and irreversible impacts on human health and the environment, MPs have heard.

A report published today by the environment, food & rural affairs committee says that Britain sends over 60 per cent of its plastic packaging waste abroad, with Turkey its most common destination.

Evidence to the committee from environment group Greenpeace showed that 80 per cent of the plastic waste found at a toxic dumping site in Turkey came from Britain.

The committee is calling for a blanket ban on British plastic waste exports by 2027 after finding the dirty trade is leaving behind toxic traces on foreign soil linked to cancer, liver disease, skin lesions and abnormal foetus development.

It found that progress in tackling plastic waste has stalled in recent years; the MPs recommend stiffer penalties against offenders and said current punishments are insufficient to deter illegal activity.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs says it is clamping down on illegal waste exports and that anyone found to be illegally exporting waste could face a two-year jail term and an unlimited fine.