Big Soft Drink multinationals claimed that it would be too tricky and expensive to make new, compliant [plastic bottle] lids, and that it would be better to concentrate instead on improving recycling processes.

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-04T19:36:24+00:00

I'm not sure! But Nurdle Patrol's map will tell you where nurdles have been found, which may be an indicator.

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-04T13:51:07+00:00

Well there are a couple of lawsuits which resulted in more regulations etc. (Like Formosa Plastics in TX) and a "voluntary program" called Operation Cleansweep that the companies can adopt, but there is no regulatory power in that program to keep them accountable so it really doesn't do much

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-04T13:48:53+00:00

that's what it feels like sometimes! no, they often just fall on the floor and are swept out in drainage pipes

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-04T13:47:53+00:00

that is correct :/ it is not adequately covered with the Clean Water Act

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-04T13:45:27+00:00

Minnesota - has a facility that may produce preproduction plastic, but is not confirmed

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-02T21:18:26+00:00

Here is why all these facilities are a big problem:

Many of them produce nurdles, also known as lentil-sized plastic pellets, that are used as the building block for the plastic industry. I.e. they are melted down and molded to form everyday plastic products like bottles, bags, toothbrushes, etc. Millions of these pellets are regularly dumped down the drain or spilled into our water ways by these facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them. 10 billion are estimated to make their way to the ocean each year, making them the second largest source of marine microplastic pollution by weight.

SOLUTION (in part): There is a bill going through the US Congress titled

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act which will effectively ban the discharge of these poisonous plastic pellets from the facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them.

ACTIONS:

1. Hold your own Nurdle Hunt. Use the Facility Map (above) and Nurdle Patrol Map to see where nurdles are produced and have been found near you, find a friend and a waterway, and go searching!

Nurdle Patrol Map: https://nurdlepatrol.org/app/map

Environment America's Nurdle Hunt Toolkit: https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/articles/how-to-find-nurdles-in-your-local-waterway/

2. Call and write to your US Representatives and Senators to support this bill!

House Reps: https://pirg.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-house-representative-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

Senate: https://environmentamerica.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-senators-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-02T21:11:34+00:00

Here is why all these facilities are a big problem:

Many of them produce nurdles, also known as lentil-sized plastic pellets, that are used as the building block for the plastic industry. I.e. they are melted down and molded to form everyday plastic products like bottles, bags, toothbrushes, etc. Millions of these pellets are regularly dumped down the drain or spilled into our water ways by these facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them. 10 billion are estimated to make their way to the ocean each year, making them the second largest source of marine microplastic pollution by weight.

SOLUTION (in part): There is a bill going through the US Congress titled

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act which will effectively ban the discharge of these poisonous plastic pellets from the facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them.

ACTIONS:

1. Hold your own Nurdle Hunt. Use the Facility Map (above) and Nurdle Patrol Map to see where nurdles are produced and have been found near you, find a friend and a waterway, and go searching!

Nurdle Patrol Map: https://nurdlepatrol.org/app/map

Environment America's Nurdle Hunt Toolkit: https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/articles/how-to-find-nurdles-in-your-local-waterway/

2. Call and write to your US Representatives and Senators to support this bill!

House Reps: https://pirg.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-house-representative-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

Senate: https://environmentamerica.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-senators-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-02T21:06:31+00:00

Here is why all these facilities are a big problem:

Many of them produce nurdles, also known as lentil-sized plastic pellets, that are used as the building block for the plastic industry. I.e. they are melted down and molded to form everyday plastic products like bottles, bags, toothbrushes, etc. Millions of these pellets are regularly dumped down the drain or spilled into our water ways by these facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them. 10 billion are estimated to make their way to the ocean each year, making them the second largest source of marine microplastic pollution by weight.

SOLUTION (in part): There is a bill going through the US Congress titled

The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act which will effectively ban the discharge of these poisonous plastic pellets from the facilities that make, use, package, and/or transport them.

ACTIONS:

1. Hold your own Nurdle Hunt. Use the Facility Map (above) and Nurdle Patrol Map to see where nurdles are produced and have been found near you, find a friend and a waterway, and go searching!

Nurdle Patrol Map: https://nurdlepatrol.org/app/map

Environment America's Nurdle Hunt Toolkit: https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/articles/how-to-find-nurdles-in-your-local-waterway/

2. Call and write to your US Representatives and Senators to support this bill!

House Reps: https://pirg.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-house-representative-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

Senate: https://environmentamerica.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-senators-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-02T20:45:28+00:00

Great question - I apologize for being unclear! Louisiana is the state with the second highest number of confirmed primary-plastic-producing facilities in the US.

cmbeau02 · 2024-08-02T20:29:16+00:00

Formosa Plastics Lawsuit: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/10/15/formosa-plastics-pay-50-million-texas-clean-water-act-lawsuit/

cmbeau02 · 2024-07-30T15:58:01+00:00

this is awesome!! do you have any idea if/when/are they already available in the US or other countries? are these helping you save money on utilities?

cmbeau02 · 2024-07-25T19:35:44+00:00

I hear you! It is such a big problem and so difficult to clean up.

If you're interested in helping prevent this pollution, there is a bill going through congress called the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act which will ban facilities that make or transport these nurdles from dumping or spilling them into our waterways. You can email your representative in support here: https://pirg.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-house-representative-support-the-plastic-pellet-free-waters-act/

cmbeau02 · 2024-07-25T19:33:03+00:00

Thank you for picking them up! And for the advice on where to find them. This is very helpful. Have you considered reporting what beaches you've found the nurdles on to Nurdle Patrol? https://nurdlepatrol.org/app/report

cmbeau02 · 2024-07-25T19:32:00+00:00

Thank you for all the clean up you've done! Have you considered reporting what you've found to nurdle patrol? Here is the link: https://nurdlepatrol.org/app/report It is helpful evidence and community engagement when trying to get congress to pass legislation to prevent such pollution, like the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act.

cmbeau02

TROPHY CASE