Thousands of plastic nurdles have recently washed ashore along the eastern coasts of England, prompting a significant clean-up effort following a tanker collision in the North Sea. The incident involved the Stena Immaculate and the cargo ship Solong, which collided off the coast of East Yorkshire on 10 March.
The Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk has taken immediate action by engaging a waste management contractor equipped with a specialist vacuum device to clear the beaches. The clean-up crews have been deployed to operate along Brancaster, Titchwell, and Holme to Old Hunstanton throughout the week. Council member Sandra Squire remarked, “Our cleanup teams have done an incredible job removing some of the bigger burnt nurdle masses but this machine should help as we move to the next phase of our beach cleanup of this pollution.” She emphasized that although nurdles are non-toxic, they pose a risk to wildlife if ingested.
Nurdles are small plastic resin pellets that serve as raw materials in the production of various plastics. Despite their non-toxic nature, the National Trust has expressed significant concern regarding the long-term consequences of this plastic pollution on local wildlife. Victoria Egan, the general manager for the National Trust, highlighted the potential enduring effects, saying, “We remain deeply concerned about the long-term impact of this plastic pollution on the Norfolk coast and its wildlife, which could continue to be washed up for weeks and months to come.” She noted that this period is crucial for many migratory birds returning to the area for the breeding season, along with the marine life, including seals and fish.
The clean-up is taking place in a context where the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is actively investigating the cause of the ship collision. Calum Duncan, head of policy and advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society, voiced his alarm regarding the situation, stating, “We're deeply concerned about nurdles washing up along the Wash, a vital internationally important protected area for birds like waders, wildfowl, gulls and terns.” He elaborated on the threats posed by the nurdles, indicating that fish and seabirds might mistake them for food, which could lead to starvation and serious health issues for these animals.
The Wash, where multiple sightings of these plastic pellets have been reported, is a large inlet of the North Sea extending from just south of Skegness in Lincolnshire to a nearby point in Hunstanton, Norfolk. Amid ongoing efforts to address the pollution, concerns about its environmental impact continue to grow, highlighting the broader issues surrounding plastic waste in marine ecosystems.
Source: Noah Wire Services