San Diego Coastkeeper joins International Plastic Pellet Count in Carlsbad

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA – Volunteers gathered at Rotary Park in Carlsbad Saturday to search for plastic pellets — tiny, lentil-sized plastic beads, also known as ‘nurdles’, that are the building blocks of plastic production — as part of the second-annual International Plastic Pellet Count. Thirteen volunteers found 697 pellets in just 10 minutes.

The Carlsbad event is one of hundreds taking place in May across the country and world, organized by a coalition of environmental and community groups. Thousands of community scientists will collect and document plastic pellets at beaches, riverbanks, and other bodies of water.

“Nurdles may be small, but their harmful impact on our waterways and wildlife is significant,” said Fiona Hines, legislative advocate with CALPIRG Education Fund. “Californians deserve clean beaches and healthy oceans, not a coastline littered with plastic.”

Plastic pellets frequently spill during manufacturing and transportation, littering coastlines and waterways. An estimated 10 trillion plastic pellets enter the oceans every year. Once in the environment, pellets absorb and spread toxic chemicals including DDT, PCBs, and mercury, and can be mistaken for food by birds, fish, turtles, and other marine animals. Those pollutants bioaccumulate, becoming more concentrated and toxic as they move up the food chain — eventually reaching humans.

The pellet count comes just months after San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation reached a resolution with BNSF Railway over the spillage of plastic pellets during rail transport, resulting in new nationwide protocols requiring the proper sealing of both loaded and unloaded rail cars that transport pellets. Though the new standards mark a significant step forward, volunteers at Saturday’s count were still finding pellets along nearby tracks, a reminder that sustained monitoring will be essential to measure their real-world impact.

“Due to their size, these pellets are extremely difficult to clean up once they’re released into the environment, so containing them at the source is critically important,” said Patrick McDonough, Senior Attorney for San Diego Coastkeeper. “Conducting pellet counts like these provide important data allowing us to monitor the effectiveness of source control protocols over time.”

Organizers hope the count’s data will help catalyze policy changes to reduce plastic pellet pollution at the source — holding manufacturers and transporters accountable for spills, and pushing for stronger regulations on plastic production and handling.

“Plastic pellets are small, yet their impact is vast and destructive because they easily spill and end up in our oceans,” said Lisa Gilfillan, Field Campaign Manager for Oceana. “These tiny pieces of plastic are difficult to clean up, contributing to the growing plastic pollution crisis that threatens our coasts, communities, and wildlife. By documenting plastic pellets, we can bring awareness to this source of plastic pollution and push for solutions that protect California waters for future generations.”

The International Plastic Pellet Count runs through May. A forthcoming report, similar to the 2025 report, will detail the findings and make recommendations.

Professional photos available soon upon request.