On Monday, the European Commission proposed stricter rules for the handling of plastic pellets to reduce the release of microplastics to the environment. An estimated 52,000 to 184,000 tonnes of plastic pellets are released into the environment every year due to incorrect handling, according to the Brussels body. The proposed new rules could reduce those losses by up to 74 per cent, the Commission.
Plastic pellets, sometimes referred to as nurdles or nibs, are used in the production of all plastics. While some might be larger, most pellets have a diameter of 5 mm or less and are therefore classified as microplastics. Pellets can be spilled during transport, or otherwise released unintentionally to the environment. Once there, the small particles accumulate in animals, including fish and shellfish, and then also come to be ingested by humans.
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