South Tyneside Council has issued a warning to dog owners to keep their pets on leads at Littlehaven Beach after plastic pellets known as nurdles washed up on the shore. The small plastic pellets, used in the production of items such as bottles, appeared following a collision between the vessels Wind Orca and BG Orange on Sunday in the River Tyne.
Council and agencies respond
The local authority stated it is collaborating with the Environment Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Port of Tyne, and other partners to assess the contamination and potential environmental impacts. In a Facebook post, the council said: "The public are advised to avoid handling the pellets and keep dogs on leads."
"Our priority is protecting the coastline and supporting the coordinated response being led by the relevant agencies and those responsible for the incident. Council teams are monitoring affected locations and are supporting any clean-up activity undertaken by specialist contractors. We will continue to keep residents informed as information becomes available."
Environmental concerns
Nurdles are known to absorb harmful chemicals, posing risks to birds and fish that mistake them for food. Millions of these pellets wash up on UK beaches annually. Littlehaven Beach was designated as one of 27 new bathing sites in the UK in 2024, meaning water quality is monitored during summer. However, the beach has frequently failed to meet required standards and was rated "poor" in 2025.
ChronicleLive has contacted the Environment Agency for further comment. The council continues to monitor affected areas and support clean-up efforts by specialist contractors.
