Why does the Netherlands want to dump its sewage in the UK?

27,500 tonnes of sewage sludge - containing human waste from the Netherlands - has been approved for import to the UK, to be used on farmland as fertiliser.

The spreading of sludge on farmland is banned in the Netherlands, which usually incinerates its waste. But problems at an Amsterdam incineration company means the authorities have been looking for alternative options.

The import permit was issued in February by the UK's Environment Agency and is valid for 12 months.

It is legal in the UK to use sewage sludge on farmland but concerns have been raised about its use.

Alistair Boxall is a professor of environmental science at the University of York.

"Antidepressants, antibiotics, flame retardants, microplastics: we know these things are in sludge but they're not monitored at all," he said.

(Photo: A lorry spreads liquid manure on a field. Credit: Getty Images)