Last October we took part in the Great Global Nurdle Hunt, and we’re very excited to take part again in 2022. We will be choosing a number of locations along the shores of Lake Ontario where we can facilitate nurdle hunts. We will provide the equipment and training to volunteers. We can also provide community service hours for students. Stay tuned for updates on times and locations as we get closer to the fall.
Fidra, a Scottish environmental charity, is on a mission to find these tiny microplastic discs as part of a global citizen science survey this October. By visiting your local beach, you will also join other nurdle hunters throughout the world in the effort to gather proof and hold the international plastics industry responsible for plastic waste and better plastic solutions.
What are Nurdles?
Credit - Extinction Rebellion Romsey
Nurdles are small plastic pellets (about the size of a lentil) used by the plastic industry to make almost all types of plastic products, from phone cases to plastic bags. For perspective – it takes about 500-1000 nurdles to make one plastic bottle, so there are trillions of nurdles produced worldwide every year.
The plastics industry is vast and complex. Nurdles are transported across the world, passed from giant production hubs to tiny microbusinesses and often handled many times on their journey to becoming plastic products. Small and lightweight, they can spill throughout the plastic supply chain and, where care is not taken, can be easily lost to the environment.
It is estimated that 230,000 tones of nurdles leak from global supply chains each year. Once in the environment, nurdles are almost impossible to clean up and can cause harm to marine life where mistaken for food and eaten. Read more about the problem: here.
Sign Up for Any of the Nurdle Hunting Events Below
As mentioned previously more information about these events will be announced closer to fall.
Marie Curtis Park, Toronto, ON
Sunnyside Beach, Toronto, ON
Bronte Beach, Oakville, ON
West Beach, Port Hope, ON
Hamilton Beach, Hamilton, ON
Bluffers Park, Scarborough, ON (Private Event)
Richard’s Memorial Park, Mississauga, ON (Private)
Humber Bay Park West, Toronto, ON (Private Event)
Why Nurdle Hunting is Important.
We want to see industry take responsibility of the pellets they handle and to stop this pollution at source. This means putting in place multiple layers of protection to reduce spills, and prevent any remaining spills being lost to the environment.
Evidence from our Global Nurdle Hunt is vital for this work. The Nurdle Map shows that people across the world are finding these plastic pellets washed up on their shores. Fidra harness this worldwide engagement by showcasing the fantastic work people are doing to show the global plastics industry and decision-makers that plastic pellet pollution is widespread and, importantly, people care about it.
This creates public pressure to hold industry accountable and implement solutions. By taking part you are helping to demonstrate how big this problem is and you’re helping to support calls to end plastic pellet pollution once and for all.
