The pollution dangers of plastic nurdles have been highlighted by Planet Aware, an Isle of Wight voluntary community action group, at a presentation and demonstration.

Plastic pellet pollution was the topic of the event, which took place on Friday, January 26, at Seely Hall in Brook, and at Compton Bay.

The event was in partnership with environmental consultant and pollution response organisation Oracle Environmental Experts (OEE).

The aims were to raise awareness on nurdle pollution, to gain support from local and national government, to draw attention to ways of tackling the issue to ensure plastic pellet pollution is on the Isle of Wight and UK agenda.

Isle of Wight County Press: The nurdle hunt at Compton

In attendance were Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, and representatives from the National Trust, Crown Estates, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Visit Isle of Wight, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and local councillors and
parliamentary candidates.

A Planet Aware spokesperson said: “ We are pleased our Island MP, Bob Seely, was able to join the group at the beach after the presentation.

"As many people, he was unaware of the numbers of pellets on our beaches and shocked by how “endemic” they were.

"He has committed to raising questions in parliament about the issue."

Nurdles are lentil sized plastic pellets, on average 2mm in diameter, that are manufactured to produce everyday plastic products.

They are transported all over the world, but the group says container ship spills and poor handling practices along the supply chain result in frequent losses to the environment.

How can you help?

Planet Aware and OEE asks that if you see nurdles on the beach, complete a nurdle survey at planetaware.co.uk/nurdles 

Share photos and location to Planet Aware's nurdle FB page, coming soon

Presentations were given by Planet Aware volunteers Sarah Marshall and Andrew Dean, who explained their concerns regarding the number of nurdles recovered over the past year from several Isle of Wight beaches, including popular holiday destinations. 

Andrew said: "Our local beaches are important to our tourist economy and socially, no one wants a beach full of plastic. Healthy clean seas are vital to us all."

Sarah and Andrew expressed concern that “no plan is currently in place both nationally or locally to deal with a nurdle spill on our shorelines."

Jon Burton and Joshua Doran from OEE, founding members of the UK and Ireland Spill Association’s Plastic Pollution Working Group also presented.