A handful of nurdles tells a much bigger story.

Among the nurdles Taryn Burns was picking up recently were some of the very same pellets from the 2017 Durban Harbour nurdle spill.

Nine years on, nurdles are still washing ashore

The start of Spring brought a sobering reminder that the fight against plastic pollution is far from over, with tiny plastic nurdles once again being collected on the coast.

Taryn Burns, founder of Oceanfriendly SA, said some of the nurdles collected were the same pellets from the 2017 Durban Harbour nurdle spill.

“Our start to Spring wasn’t spent picking and admiring beautiful flowers. Instead, it was sadly spent on our pristine beach picking up plastic nurdles – tiny, paw-paw-pip-sized plastic pellets that are the raw material used to manufacture everyday plastic products.

“And perhaps the saddest part?

“Among the nurdles I was picking up today were some of the very same pellets from the 2017 Durban Harbour nurdle spill.

“Nine years later, after nine years of tides, storms, currents and waves – and they are still washing ashore.”

Taryn said the nurdles had also been joined by pellets from other spills and sources.

She said the 2017 spill inspired her to start Hibiscus Coast Greenies, which a year later evolved into Oceanfriendly SA.

“It can feel like an endless battle. But every nurdle removed is one less piece of plastic available to be swallowed by a seabird, fish, turtle or other marine animal – and one less piece slowly breaking down into even smaller plastic particles in our ocean.

“So while Spring brings thoughts of flowers, new growth and fresh beginnings, perhaps it is also a good time to remember that protecting our beautiful coast is not a once-off event.

“It is the small, repetitive, often unseen acts that add up.

“Nine years later, we’re still here. Still picking. Still caring. Still ocean-friendly.”

Tiny pellets which is a massive problem.

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