A High Wycombe-based rubbish collection company will appear in court next week charged with trying to export around 175 tonnes of household waste – including dirty nappies and clothes – to China.

Biffa Waste Services Ltd, which has its headquarters in Coronation Road in Cressex, allegedly tried to ship seven containers of rubbish from its premises at Edmonton in north London to China via Felixstowe in 2015.

The Environment Agency claims Biffa broke European law – and was caught out by EA officers who intercepted the containers at the port in May and June 2015.

They are said to have found household waste, such as soiled nappies, clothes and food packaging – but the shipping documents described the material as waste paper, which can be sent to China for recycling.

The company is charged with two counts of breaching regulation 23 of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and will appear at Wood Green Crown Court in London from Monday, October 15.

The trial is expected to last for around three weeks.