Nurdles are small plastic pellets used as the raw material in the manufacture of plastic products. 

Whilst tiny in size, they can have a devastating impact on wildlife. Birds, fish, and other marine animals can mistake nurdles for food, leading to ingestion that can cause malnutrition, starvation, and wider impacts throughout the food chain. 

Once released into the environment, nurdles can persist for decades, creating long-term plastic pollution that is extremely difficult to remove. 

Reports indicate that over a billion plastic nurdles have entered the marine environment, via the Port of Tyne from the recent incident on Sunday 19th July, and rapidly spread along the coastline and into important marine habitats. 

This incident is believed to be the largest recorded nurdle spill in Northern Europe and the UK.

The region’s coastline, rivers, and marine habitats are vital places for both people, and nature and the wildlife charity recognises the ongoing efforts being led by the community in response to the devastating incident. 

The response from local residents has been remarkable, with hundreds of people coming together to protect the beaches and wildlife that make the region so special. However, community action must be supported by a coordinated and properly resourced official response. 

The wildlife charity, which has several coastal reserves at Druridge Bay, is expecting those responsible for the incident to pay the full costs of the clean-up. It is also calling on all relevant authorities and responsible organisations to ensure that assessment, containment, and clean-up efforts proceed as quickly as possible, with regular public updates on progress and environmental impacts. Swift and effective action is essential to minimise long-term harm to wildlife, habitats, and coastal communities.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust will work with those leading the response to understand how it can best support monitoring and recovery efforts and will continue to share reliable information and advocate for the protection and restoration of our local natural spaces.

Residents wishing to get involved should follow the guidance provided by North Tyneside Council to ensure any participation is conducted safely:
https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/plastic-pellets-beaches-nurdles

This incident also highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to prevent plastic pellet pollution ever happening. 

Since the launch of Fidra's Great Nurdle Hunt in 2014, organisations and communities around the world have called for improved industry standards, stronger legislation, and international agreements to prevent pellet loss. 

The Trust will encourage governments, regulators and industry to make nurdle pollution a priority and implement effective measures that protect our rivers, coastlines, and wildlife from future spills.

As further opportunities to support the response become available, including volunteer activities and community initiatives, its teams will share updates through its channels. Together, everybody must ensure that this incident leads not only to a thorough clean-up but also to meaningful action that prevents similar environmental damage in the future.

Members of the public can get involved and support what's happening on the ground by 

Joining a local community-led clean-up group in North and South Shields, contact their local MP to express their concerns and sign up for updates from Surfer's Against Sewage at   www.sas.org.uk/updates/surfers-against-sewage-policy-position-northeast-nurdle-spill/

Guidance from North Tyneside Council about how to safely get involved is available at: www.northtyneside.gov.uk/plastic-pellets-beaches-nurdles 

Rhiannon Studholme, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Eco Mentor says:

"This incident is devastating to me both professionally and personally. My role at Northumberland Wildlife Trust is to help young people in our local area connect and care for our local blue spaces and I am also a resident and a regular visitor to our beautiful coastline.

“It is heartbreaking to see this disaster unfold but, at the same time, truly inspiring to see the local community working together to try to help with the clean-up.

“Looking forward we need to continue to advocate for our seas and coastline and ensure it is protected from any further harm."