NEW REPORT: International Plastic Pellet Count Finds More than a Million Tiny ‘Nurdles’ in Waterways

NEW REPORT: International Plastic Pellet Count finds more than a million tiny ‘nurdles’ in waterways

The post NEW REPORT: International Plastic Pellet Count finds more than a million tiny ‘nurdles’ in waterways appeared first on PIRG.

Nurdle count shows scope of small plastic bead pollution in San Diego County and beyond

A person holds nurdles found at Beacons Beach in Encinitas, May 2, 2026.(Courtesy of Steven Gaskin)The 2026 International Plastic Pellet Count shows the tiny plastic beads are polluting waterways all over the world.The report released Tuesday said over 1 million so-called "nurdles" were found, with over 15,000 across California.“We do the count as a way to show this really is a problem," Jenn Engstrom said. "They’re clear so they can really easi…

International volunteer survey finds widespread plastic pellet pollution in waterways

A 2026 international citizen science project uncovered extensive plastic pellet pollution across the U.S. and other countries, highlighting the widespread presence of nurdles in aquatic environments and their potential environmental impact.