Plastic pollution is a growing concern on San Diego County beaches, with nurdles being a major contributor. Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets used in the manufacturing of various plastic products. Unfortunately, many of these nurdles end up on the beaches instead of reaching their intended destinations.
Mark O’Connor, co-lead of the Surfrider Foundation’s “Rise Above Plastics” program, explained that nurdles are transported globally by trains and boats before being melted into their final form. However, a significant number of nurdles spill out during shipping and find their way to the beaches in San Diego County.
Janis Jones, another co-lead of the program, shared her surprise at finding nurdles on the beach in Carlsbad, where she regularly cleans up. She described the alarming sight of countless nurdles in a small area near the Carlsbad train station.
Congressman Mike Levin has introduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act to address the issue of shipping plastic. While the legislation aims to tighten regulations, some advocates feel that more work is needed. Clare Swithenbank-Bowman, the founder of Trash4Tokens and Litter4Tokens, highlighted the importance of classifying nurdles as hazardous materials to prevent spills effectively.
Without this crucial amendment, it may be challenging to prevent nurdle spills as they are not stored in sealed containers like oil. For safety reasons, advocates advise the public against picking up nurdles near the train tracks and encourage cleaning up nurdles on the beach instead.
The presence of nurdles on San Diego County beaches underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and better waste management practices to protect marine life and ecosystems. As individuals, we can also play a role in reducing plastic pollution by minimizing the use of single-use plastics and participating in beach clean-up efforts. By working together, we can help preserve the beauty of our beaches for future generations to enjoy.
