Nurdle clean up continues on Tyneside coastline as Mayor demands ship owners pay the bill

North Tyneside and South Tyneside councils, alongside other agencies, are teaming up to rid the coastline of plastic pellets, known as nurdles, which were cast into the sea following a collision at the Port of Tyne on Sunday.

While the pellets are not toxic, they can pose a hazard to wildlife and other animals if ingested.

The public is being asked not to handle the pellets and to keep dogs on leads in the affected areas. Temporary signage is being installed, with information being shared through the council’s social media.

Louise Gray, director of public health for North Tyneside, said: “We understand that residents may be concerned by reports of plastic pellets washing up on our beaches.

"The public health risks on shore are very low, and the plastic pellets are not toxic but can pose a risk to wildlife and other animals if ingested. However, we would encourage people not to handle them and to keep dogs on leads in affected areas as a precaution.

“Our teams have already been working around the clock to make a start on clearing the beaches, tracking the tide to ensure we’re making the most of the windows where clean-up can be done safely and efficiently. Their efforts are just the start of what will be a wider response.

"We are working closely with regional partners to monitor the situation, coordinate our response and provide timely information to the public. By following the advice in place, residents and visitors can continue to enjoy our coastline while helping to protect local wildlife and support the ongoing clean-up efforts.”

Nurdles are small plastic beads used in the manufacture of a wide range of everyday products, including food packaging, bottles and household goods.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has called on the shipping companies behind the collision to foot the bill for the massive clean-up operation.

The Mayor has written to the two shipping companies involved in a collision which led to the spillage of up to 25 tonnes of tiny plastic nurdles saying they should not wait for the results of an investigation to provide cash and resources for the local clean-up.

She said: “Our councils have launched thorough clean-up operations north and south of the Tyne, but we don’t yet know how big a threat these millions of plastic pellets could be to our beautiful beaches and wildlife.

“People rightly want to volunteer to help save the coastline they’re proud of – with local councils we’ll be giving more information on how to do this safely early next week as soon as the right equipment arrives. I want to say thank you to everyone stepping up to protect the coastline we all love. My office is working closely with our councils, the Port of Tyne and the Environment Agency to clean our beaches and protect our precious bird and marine life.

“Sadly, it is already clear this looks like the worst incident of nurdle pollution in Europe, and our clean-up will be long and expensive. We must start from the principle that the polluter should pay, so North East taxpayers do not end up footing the bill.”