Nurdle Spill: Only 28% Recovered, Future Beach Wash-ups Predicted
Scientists estimate nearly 18 tonnes of plastic nurdles spilled into the River Tyne, with less than a third recovered and more expected to emerge on coastlines.
Scientists have calculated that only 28% of the plastic nurdles spilled into the River Tyne have been recovered, and they anticipate that more will continue to wash ashore on beaches in the future.
An estimated 18 tonnes of nurdles entered the River Tyne following a ship collision at the Port of Tyne in July. Despite thousands of hours dedicated by volunteers to clearing beaches across the region, only 5.14 tonnes have been collected. This assessment comes from work conducted by Newcastle University and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
The multi-agency group overseeing the nurdle response remains committed to the cleanup effort, according to Gary Kirsop, South Tyneside Council's director of community operations.
Researchers from Newcastle University and Cefas also noted that the nurdles were "likely to have dispersed beyond the Tyne estuary out into the North Sea." Their findings suggest that some nurdles may still be present within the river system and could continue to appear on parts of the coastline, influenced by weather patterns, wind, and tides.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness expressed distress for those involved in caring for the region's coastline. She has initiated an independent review of the response and recovery operations and is supporting calls for revisions to international regulations governing the transport of plastic nurdles. McGuinness emphasized the necessity for agencies involved in cleanup operations to be prepared and act swiftly when such incidents occur.
