Key facts
- About a billion plastic nurdles spilled into the River Tyne following a ship collision.
- The incident occurred on Sunday at the Port of Tyne when the Wind Orca collided with the BG Orange.
- An estimated 25 tonnes of nurdles entered the water, potentially spreading widely.
- Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets used as raw material for plastic products.
- Authorities are assessing contamination and supporting clean-up efforts, with warnings issued to the public.
Approximately one billion tiny plastic nurdles have entered the River Tyne following a collision between two ships at the Port of Tyne. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, involved the ship Wind Orca colliding with the berthed container ship BG Orange, resulting in damage to a dockside crane and one injury.
An estimated 25 tonnes of nurdles, the raw material for most plastic products, entered the water. Following the discovery of these pellets on South Shields beach, local authorities have warned residents to avoid handling them and to keep pets on leads. While not toxic themselves, nurdles can absorb environmental toxins and are mistaken for food by animals, posing a risk to wildlife.
Environmental charity Fidra highlighted that nurdles are difficult to remove once in the environment and can travel vast distances, with pellets previously found at 84% of UK sites of special scientific interest. The charity's tracking indicates the current spill may have already spread significantly, with reports of nurdles as far south as Sunderland. HM Coastguard and the Environment Agency are supporting local authorities in the response and clean-up operations.