Page 23 - Litter Toolkit

4.4

Microplastics

The term ‘microplastics’ is used to refer to pieces of difficult because of their tiny size. The beads are too
plastic that are smaller than five millimetres in size. small to be filtered out of the water at wastewater ACTIONS: Let’s Go
Recent research has shown that microplastics can treatment plants.
be found throughout the world’s ocean and coastal Visit your local beach and become nurdle hunters!
habitats. Microplastics are highly toxic, and do not go How do microplastics get into the ocean? Raise awareness of your findings within your school
away. Sadly, they are often mistaken for prey by many and community.
marine animals and seabirds, eventually entering our There are two primary pathways by which
food chain. microplastics enter the ocean: Investigate microbeads in everyday products. Do
you use any in your school? Do you use any at
Microplastics can come from a variety of sources: • Through wastewater treatment plant effluent home? Can you find alternatives?
• By dumping or improper disposal of plastic waste
• Primary microplastics are deliberately made as Make a pledge as a whole school to use products
small beads, pellets or plastic fragments. Many of The UK government has announced a ban on that do not contain microplastics.
the manufactured microplastics (e.g. polyethylene microbeads that are used in ‘rinse-off’ products.
‘microbeads’) are ingredients in some toothpastes, However, there are many products not contained
facial scrubs and body washes, as well as makeup within the scope of this ban that contain microplastic
products, deodorants and other personal care ingredients and enter the aquatic environment.
products. Others are pellets (often called
nurdles), which is the form in which raw plastic is School example
transported to plastic manufacturers.
Seven schools from Newport came together to
• Secondary microplastics result from the investigate litter found on the coastline. Activities Story of Stuff
breakdown of larger pieces of plastic by physical included sorting through some areas of their local
and chemical forces. Others come from synthetic beach to find litter items, hunting for nurdles and Beat the Microbead
fabrics like polyester, as every time a piece of creating a giant piece of art from marine litter.
polyester clothing is washed hundreds of fibres are MCS
released into the water.

Dealing with pollution from microplastics is especially Greenpeace