Billion plastic pellets spilled into UK river after two ships collide
A collision between two ships at the Port of Tyne has resulted in a spill of approximately one billion plastic nurdles into the River Tyne. Local authorities have warned residents to avoid the pellets, which pose a significant threat to marine life.
Why it matters
This environmental incident highlights the risks of industrial shipping and the long-term ecological damage caused by microplastic pollution.
Local residents said nurdles covered the whole stretch of South Shields beach. Local residents said nurdles covered the whole stretch of South Shields beach. Pollution Billion plastic pellets spilled into UK river after two ships collide Up to 25 tonnes of nurdles, the raw material for plastic manufacturing, have spread further than initially feared
Prefer the Guardian on Google Approximately a billion tiny plastic nurdles have entered the River Tyne after a “devastating spill”, with the pellets thought to have spread much further than first thought.
Nurdles are tiny pellets, usually about 1-5mm in size, that act as the raw material to manufacture most plastic products.
On Sunday, the Wind Orca ship collided with the berthed container ship BG Orange at the Port of Tyne, causing damage to a dockside crane and injuring one person.
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