A number of haulage and waste companies may face prosecution for illegally exporting waste to Britain following a surveillance operation by local authorities in the Dublin area.
Four trucks, which were impounded at Dublin Port since Thursday night, were carrying various types of waste which was due to be recycled or scrapped.
Officials said the trucks did not have proper documentation authorising the owners to export the waste. Some of the waste included end-of-life cars, which agents said were a pollution threat.
The council's waste-enforcement unit also impounded on Thursday night a further 20 trucks carrying meat-and-bone meal due for export to Britain.
It is understood that while they had licences from the Department of Agriculture to export the waste, they did not have mandatory export documents, which are issued by local authorities.
The trucks were given authorisation to leave Dublin Port at lunchtime yesterday after the issue was resolved.
All waste shipments across national boundaries must have export documentation from local authorities in order to comply with the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste regulations.
These are aimed at preventing unauthorised disposal or unregulated recovery of materials.
A conviction under the Waste Management Act can result in a fine of up to €15 million and a term of imprisonment up to 10 years. In practice, however, much smaller fines and prosecutions are typically issued in the District Courts.
The waste-enforcement unit, which covers the Dublin City and Fingal County Council areas, claims to be making a significant impact on the illegal waste business in Dublin.
The unit has conducted vehicle checkpoints across the city as well as surveillance operations and routine inspections. Dublin City Council estimates that five legal files are being prepared on illegal dumping.