John,

Nurdles, small plastic pellets used to make most plastic products, are ending up in our waterways and oceans by the trillions every year.

They pollute our waters with microplastics and toxic chemicals absorbed during production, and yet when companies intentionally dump nurdles into waterways, they often face no consequences.

If we want to protect our planet and our health, we need to make dumping plastic nurdles into waterways illegal.

We're taking action to convince the Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit companies from dumping nurdles into our waterways. Will you add your voice to our call today?

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: U.S. PIRG <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024
Subject: Tell the EPA: Ban dumping nurdles into our water
To: John xxxxxx <[email protected]>

John,

You're likely reading this email on a device made in part from "nurdles," the tiny plastic pellets that are the building blocks for many of the plastic products we use every day.1

They're tiny, yet they're also one of the most polluting forms of plastic. Even though most people have never heard of them, an estimated 10 trillion nurdles enter our waterways every year from careless dumping by companies that often face no consequences for their pollution.2

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should hold these companies accountable and keep nurdles out of our water. Tell the EPA: Prohibit the discharge of nurdles into our waterways.

How is this much plastic pollution entering our environment?

Nurdles' small size makes it easier than it should be for careless companies to spill large quantities of these pellets into waterways and storm drains when they're being manufactured or transported.

Sometimes, companies even intentionally dump these plastic pellets into the water. From there, the nurdles find their way into our rivers, lakes and oceans.3

And despite the harm they cause, these companies often face no penalties for dumping nurdles into waterways. Instead, our health, waterways and wildlife pay the price.

Take action for our health and environment with a message to the EPA today.

Maybe you've seen these plastic pellets on riverbanks or in waterways near your home. They are round, about the size of a lentil, and can be any color or even clear.

But even if you haven't, there could very well still be plastic in the water. Nurdles break down over hundreds of years, and as they do, they disintegrate into microplastic pieces that can be accidentally ingested by animals or humans.

Our water should be clean, healthy and plastic-free.

The EPA can help keep plastic out of our water by prohibiting the discharge of nurdles into our waterways. Add your name today.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. Neel Dhamesha, "The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you've probably never heard of," Vox, May 6, 2022.
2. Neel Dhamesha, "The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you've probably never heard of," Vox, May 6, 2022.
3. Neel Dhamesha, "The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you've probably never heard of," Vox, May 6, 2022.

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