Volunteers have been issued fresh guidance on how to help clear nurdles from North East beaches after a collision in the Port of Tyne discharged 25 tonnes of the plastic pellets into the River Tyne. The small pellets, used to make plastic products such as bottles, have been washing up on the region's shoreline since the collision between the Wind Orca and the BG Orange on Sunday, July 19.
Clean-up efforts and schedules
More than 100 people took part in a clean-up on Whitley Bay Beach on Monday, July 27. Similar clean-ups have taken place at Tynemouth Longsands, North Shields Fish Quay, and Littlehaven and Sandhaven in South Shields. North Tyneside Council has issued guidance on how to safely carry out clean-ups, with organisers saying every day this week is crucial. Beach cleans are planned just after high tide across North Tyneside at the following times:
- Monday, July 27: 4pm - 8pm
- Tuesday, July 28: 6am - 10am & 4pm - 8pm
- Wednesday, July 29: 6am - 10am & 4.45pm - 9pm
- Thursday, July 30: 6am - 10am & 5.30pm - 9.30pm
- Friday, July 31: 6am - 10am & 6.15pm - 9.30pm
- Saturday, August 1: 6am - 10am & 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Mayor and company response
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has called on the shipping companies involved to pay for the clean-up, saying they have a "moral duty to do the right thing by the North East". On Monday, Cadeler, whose offshore wind firm owns the Wind Orca, said specialist pollution response contractors are being deployed to "step up" the clean-up operation, acknowledging that "time is of the essence".
