Members of the public are being warned against handling plastic pellets washing up on North East beaches following a ship collision in the River Tyne. Thousands of small pellets, known as 'nurdles', have been sighted on beaches in North Tyneside and South Tyneside after a collision between the Wind Orca and the BG Orange on Sunday.
Local councils have been working with the Environment Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Port of Tyne and other partner organisations to assess the extent of contamination and potential environmental impacts. Sunderland City Council has issued important information for residents and visitors to the coast.
Public urged to avoid handling pellets
The council has asked people to avoid handling the pellets and to keep dogs on leads when visiting the beach. Anyone who sights pellets on the beaches is also asked to report it via a provided link.
A spokesperson for Sunderland City Council said: "We’re asking people to report any sightings of plastic pellets known as ‘nurdles’ being washed up on Sunderland beaches following a vessel collision in the River Tyne on Sunday."
"Council teams are monitoring the city’s beaches and working closely with partner organisations, including the Environment Agency, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Port of Tyne, to assess the situation and support efforts to remove pellets from any areas where they are identified."
Low risk to public health
The spokesperson added: "The risk to public health is considered to be very low. The pellets are non-toxic but can pose a risk to wildlife and animals if ingested. Anyone who spots any pellets on the city’s beaches or the shoreline should report them at: https://orlo.uk/Qr0QI. If you do come across any pellets, please avoid handling them and keep dogs on leads."
When reporting a sighting, the council asks people to include: the location (using what3words if possible), date and time seen, a photo where possible, and approximate amount of pellets seen. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
