Have you heard of nurdles? They might sound cute, but they are actually small preproduction plastic pellets that are produced and shipped around the world to be melted down and molded into plastic products. Not only does plastic production use fossil fuels and thereby contribute to climate change, but these small nurdles often spill during transit and end up in the environment—an estimated 230,000 tons of them every year. Hundreds of species, including turtles, fish and birds, are known to ingest nurdles. It is time to hold producers responsible for appropriate handling of this harmful substance.
The Seattle Aquarium is supporting the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act (Senate bill S. 1507). This bill would require the EPA to:
- Prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets (or other preproduction plastics) from facilities that make, use, package or transport those materials.
- Update all existing permits and performance standards to reflect those prohibitions.
Take action!
- Support the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act: Help us encourage members of Congress to co-sponsor this important legislation and help keep microplastics out of the ocean. Fill in your contact information on this Aquarium Conservation Partnership action alert page to send a quick message to your legislators.
- Reduce single-use plastics: Switch to reusable water bottles, utensils, and snack and sandwich bags for your summer picnics and everyday use.
- “Green” up your pantry and fridge: Avoid “snack size” packages and aim for products that contain lots of food or drink in a single package/container. Better yet, make your own cookies, puddings, granola bars and popcorn. It’s kinder to the environment—and a great way to spend time with kids!
Thank you for raising your voice and taking action for the health of our ocean and marine wildlife. Let’s #SayNoToNurdles!
