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Official Guidance from North Tyneside Council
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Community announcement
This page contains the latest official updates and guidance from North Tyneside Council.
LMB
Response from Alan Campbell’s office.
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LMB
I know many residents are deeply concerned about the environmental incident affecting our coastline following the collision of two ships at the Port of Tyne, which resulted in the release of millions of plastic pellets into the River Tyne.
I wanted to update you on what has happened so far.
- I have spoken directly with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to raise the seriousness of this incident and the impact it is having on our communities and coastline.
- I have been in regular contact with the Port of Tyne, the Environment Agency, and the two affected local authorities to ensure I receive the latest information and to press for a swift and effective response.
- I have sought assurances that every possible effort is being made to clean up the pollution and to keep the public informed of any risks.
- I have been advised that, at present, there is no evidence that the plastic pellets are toxic, but I recognise the significant concern surrounding their environmental impact and the effect on our beaches and wildlife.
- I have formally asked DEFRA to provide any support necessary to local agencies undertaking the clean-up operation and to be prepared to step in with additional assistance if required.
- I have also stressed the importance of ensuring that, should the ongoing investigation determine liability, the polluter pays for the clean-up and remediation work, rather than local taxpayers bearing the cost.
- Finally, I have called for the Government to review the transportation of plastic pellets, often known as nurdles, and to consider whether current arrangements adequately reflect the environmental risks posed when spills occur.
I will continue to monitor the situation closely, press for a thorough clean-up of affected areas, and keep constituents informed as further information becomes available. Protecting our coastline and ensuring accountability for environmental damage remain my priorities.
Sally Yonder · Community admin
We will need volunteers on all the beaches just after high tide twice a day every day leading up to the highest tide on Saturday.
Suggested following times we are using as a guideline. This can be applied to all beaches, rocky inlets etc. you can come before or after, just come 🙏
- ⚡️ Monday 27th ~ 4pm -8pm
- ⚡️ Tuesday 28th ~ 6am - 10am & 4pm - 8pm
- ⚡️ Wednesday 29th ~ 6am - 10am & 4.45 - 9pm
- ⚡️ Thursday 30th ~ 6am - 10am & 5.30pm - 9.30pm
- ⚡️ Friday 31st ~ 6am - 10am & 6.15pm - 9.30pm
- ⚡️ Saturday 1st ~ 6am - 10am & 6.30pm - 9.30pm
This is community led: see the ‘group description’ for your beach and in ‘general’ for FAQs, guidelines, equipment to use and what to expect.
Sally · Community admin
There is a major volunteer effort kicking off from 6am Monday morning
Longsands at the High Tide Line starting from Crusoe’s to clear nurdle plastic pollution from our beaches and everyone in Tynemouth has a part to play.
More teams are being assembled and will branch off to other beaches, so watch out for information including Monday afternoon after the second high tide.
Based on expert advice the organisers have come to the conclusion that:
- The insurers' contractors are equipped and staffed only to handle the Fish Quay, and nearly all of the equipment needed in the North East is unlikely to be here for days. We can leave the Fish Quay to them, but Tynemouth needs to step up — nobody else will.
- The tides this week, in particular Monday and Tuesday, present a golden opportunity to put a dent in this, which otherwise we will regret. Residents here would never forgive ourselves if we let that happen.
- With each high tide this week, more and more pellets will refloat and form the neat lines along the high tide mark, making them easy for volunteers to sweep up.
- It's been possible to locally manufacture enough filtering bags this weekend to support a big effort. Enough people who have already been volunteering have developed experience using them.
- There's scope for less experienced volunteers to sweep up material with just a couple of minutes' training (without touching a single pellet). You brush/scrape it; they will filter out the pellets.
So, if you have some time to spare before work, please come down. Don't expect perfection, but do come and help.
A few do's and don'ts:
- Don't step on the nurdles. This is the one thing which can make the situation worse. With the beaches in heavy use, this has happened too much.
- Do wear gloves (there will be plenty available, or bring your own). It's not essential but helps the organisers minimise the amount of supervision less experienced volunteers need.
- Do wash your hands when finished.
- Do leave the filtering to the more experienced volunteers running the operation — this is more complicated.
- If possible, bring a dustpan (and brush). You'll learn why...
This is not a small problem. The effects are long term and will be reduced by prompt action.
The insurers have not brought enough resources to bear early enough, and there's nothing we can do about that. Nurdles that embed into the beaches will break down into microplastics over decades.
We will likely experience a sustained period of this material coming ashore. There is still a substantial amount in the Tyne and the sea which will come out in waves as the tides move. Even after the first stage of this ends, storms will bring it back several times over the coming years.
We are still in the short window where volunteers will make a difference. Please consider helping.
Longsands Beach — volunteer times
We are asking that volunteers head to Longsands Beach at the following times.
We have equipment to distribute and techniques to share that can then be taken to the other beaches accordingly.
Please vote for the time(s) you can make in the General WhatsApp group poll.
Latest update
This week is critical. Unofficial expert advice due to EA block. Join WhatsApp for beach teams.
26 July – 1 August 2026
Tides are climbing higher each day. Nurdle lines get pushed further up the beach until the spring tide next Saturday.
Collect from the high tide line daily this week — before those lines are pushed higher and become much harder to recover.
Doing this now limits environmental impact and how long the cleanup lasts. The next thick lines may not return for about two weeks; a storm could scatter everything again.
We need teams of volunteers out after high tide, getting on this fast. We have clear guidance on what to do and which tools to use.
Important — method to focus on
At this stage, specifically clear the lines appearing on the beaches after high tide. Nurdles in soft sand will be collected by the tides and form these lines — so focus on that method.
Be kind to each other. Be patient with each other. We are all trying to figure this out — support each other.
Upcoming event
Nurdle Beaches Emergency Briefing
Sign up for the chance to attend an in-person briefing and brainstorming session on North Tyneside’s beach experience with the largest plastic bead spill in Northern Europe.
Sign up on Eventbrite
What this is
- A chance to hear from some of those working on the problem — many of whom will have been working all weekend and non-stop since this began. They/we will need support and a chance to pause and reflect on where we are.
- A chance to think through what we can expect over the next few weeks, months and year.
What this is not
- We will stick to the issues on our beaches. If your primary interest is upriver — for example the marina and riverside — this isn’t for you.
- We’re not looking to hold an angry public meeting where we shout questions at each other. That wouldn’t be useful, and we then couldn’t invite people directly working on this.
Please submit a question and also tell us what you may be able to offer to make the event informative. Venue will be announced 6 hours in advance, within a 5-minute walk of Metro close to Tynemouth. If interest exceeds capacity, in-person places will be offered based on the question asked or by random ballot, with everyone else offered the chance to join online.