A river conservation charity has labeled the release of one billion plastic pellets into a river as an “environmental catastrophe.” The incident occurred on 19 July when tons of small plastic beads, referred to as nurdles, spilled into the River Tyne after a ship collided with a shipping container in South Shields. The Tyne Rivers Trust expressed concerns that the plastic pollution could persist in the river for an extended period.
Sophia Stovall, the charity’s chief executive, reported finding fish with nurdles in their systems and fishermen discovering the pellets during the gutting process. The spill, described as Europe’s most severe nurdle pollution event, has prompted an investigation by the Environment Agency while the Port of Tyne took immediate action to mitigate the damage.
It is estimated that the billion plastic pellets entered the river within a five-second timeframe after the container ruptured. Cleanup efforts led by specialized contractors, supported by numerous volunteers, have been in progress as nurdles have been washing up on beaches across northeast England.
The River Tyne, known for its diverse fish population and salmon fishing, is now at risk of long-term contamination by nurdles. Matt Beeton, the Port’s CEO, confirmed that the plastic pellets were discharged into the river within seconds of the incident. The Port management was unaware of the container’s contents until the following day, treating the spill as a significant environmental emergency.
Despite facing challenges in accessing the site due to a police cordon, the Port promptly informed local authorities of the spill after reviewing CCTV footage showing the nurdles entering the river. The incident underscores the ongoing risks posed by plastic pollution to aquatic ecosystems and the environment.
