The Great Nurdle Hunt is running from 1st to 31st October and Planet Aware Isle of Wight volunteers are asking Islanders to help.
Andrew Dean, a Planet Aware volunteer, said,
“This year we have seen significant numbers of plastic pellets polluting our beaches . These plastic pellets used for making plastic goods are called nurdles. By taking part in the Great Nurdle hunt we can collect data which can be used to drive policy change. The data is used by FIDRA www.fidra.org.uk to help prevent pellet loss. FIDRA estimate a change in the way nurdles are handled in the supply chain would lead to a 95% reduction in pellet loss, so data is key to a push for policy change.
“These plastic pellets look like fish eggs or food to creatures and birds , there is also research that shows large numbers of pellets can change sand characteristics such as temperature . When we were at Compton this summer so many members of the public were curious to find out more about the nurdles and were saddened to see so many on our beaches, once you see them it is very difficult not to notice them.”
Part of a wider project
In addition to asking residents to take part in the Great nurdle hunt, Planet Aware is asking residents to get in touch if they are able to collect nurdles on a regular basis and is setting up some drop off points.
“We are collecting nurdles as part of a wider project to raise awareness about the problems they cause as well as to drive home the point that these nurdles are the feedstock of all the plastic items that we use.
“If we can cut our plastic use, particularly, single use and cheap flimsy plastic items , or by reusing and repairing we can also drive down demand for these pellets”.
Show your support
We are seeking support from local business for this project and would like to thank DMR Engineering, a company that is already supporting us by creating a trammel which we can use for nurdle removal, but also education.
We have been in touch with the Environment Agency and others and will be inviting local government to join us on the beaches later this month so they can see first hand the impact these nurdles have on our beaches.
If you would like to help please get in touch [email protected]
Walking Festival walk
You can join Planet Aware on a nurdle walk as part of the IW walking festival.
Planet Aware will also be holding a nurdle hunts in October and November.
News shared by Andrew on behalf of Planet Aware. Ed
