Nurdles clean-up volunteers meet Port of Tyne boss
BBCVolunteers helping to clean up a spillage of millions of plastic pellets from beaches have met representatives from the Port of Tyne to discuss next steps.
Tonnes of the pieces of plastic, known as nurdles, washed up on beaches in the north-east of England after a crash between two vessels at the port damaged two shipping containers.
Measures to tackle the spillage were not deployed until several days after the incident, with Mayor Kim McGuinness saying the firm did not act quickly enough.
The port said it had to first focus on a salvage operation to remove a collapsed crane after the collision, but would now engage with community volunteers on how to "best help" get rid of the nurdles.
The firm said removing the crane, as well as moving one of the ships involved in the crash, had allowed it to remove damaged containers from the river that still contained "several tonnes of nurdles" which were at risk of leaking.
FidraSouth Tyneside Nurdle Clean Up campaigner, Colin Porter, said: "We don't think there's been enough done in the river to stop these nurdles going out to sea - the clean up so far has been inadequate."
He said seabirds were picking up the nurdles thinking they were fish eggs to eat, and it risked becoming an "environmental disaster".
Local resident Sunny Moon-Schott, from South Shields, said the community coming together was "heartening" but "we shouldn't have to do this".
"This is negligence and it's so disappointing, the Port of Tyne response was too delayed and now we've got people out with kitchen sieves trying to solve the problem themselves," he said.
Port of TyneCounty Durham wildlife campaigner Rachael Kurtz said "the Port of Tyne are doing nothing and our wildlife and beaches are suffering".
"I may be dressed as a puffin, but I am furious."
Campaigners presented an open letter to the Port of Tyne chief executive Matt Beeton, criticising the port's "inadequate" response.
Beeton said they had discussed their concerns and requests.
"The solution will be in conversation with volunteers who will play a major role in deciding what we do and how we do it," he said.
"Today's meeting strengthened those relationships as we work together for the best outcomes."
