They’re small, not even as large as a pea.

Every year, trillions of them find their way into the ocean, making them the second-largest source of ocean microplastics.

And yet, they’re not currently classified as “hazardous” or “pollutants,” so we’re doing almost nothing about them.

We’re talking about “nurdles.”

Nurdles are produced from natural gas or oil. They are essentially tiny beads of pure plastic and serve as the building block for almost all plastic products. Every year, trillions of nurdles are shipped to factories across the world to create things like water bottles, steering wheels, technological devices, and more. But John, they don’t always make it to their intended destination.

200,000 metric tons of nurdles find their way into oceans each year. There, they threaten hundreds of fish species and at least 80 species of seabirds who may accidentally consume them. Animals that eat nurdles risk blocking their digestive system and dying of starvation.

Despite the danger they pose to animals, humans, and the ocean itself, nurdles are virtually unregulated in the United States. Because they are not classified as pollutants or hazardous materials, the Coast Guard, which usually handles cleanups of oil or other toxic substances that enter waterways, is not responsible for them, and most state governments have no rules in place around monitoring, preventing, or cleaning up nurdle spills.

John – challenges like this require innovative solutions from dedicated, environmentally-conscious legislators. Our SEEC Members are at work in Congress every single day to make sure no threat to our planet, no matter how small, goes unchecked. Can you support them as they continue to tackle the daunting, complex problems facing our environment?

Thank you,

SEEC PAC