The one ugly face appeared back in 2017, when a large nurdle spill resulted in 47 tons lost off a containership near Durban, during a storm. The clean-up was paid for by Saudi Basic Industries Corp, which owned the cargo. Some 5.4 tons of nurdles were collected by 196 beneficiaries dedicated to deal with the plastic nurdles clean-up along the coast.
A nurdle is a small plastic pellet used to create virtually anything plastic. It sounds unbelievable that something so small can cause so much damage. But they can be swallowed by seabirds and fish, causing malnutrition and starvation, because of the chemicals used during the production of nurdles. Nurdles absorb toxins and harmful chemicals like persistent organic pollutants (POP). POPs are toxic chemicals found in the air, water, among others, and they have a bad effect on human health.
Nurdles are most commonly found on beaches and near water sources, such as rivers. They can also be found in between rocks or in seaweed or on beaches.
The better looking preety face are industries created as a result of reuse and waste. SA generates 2.4 million tons of plastic waste every year, equivalent to 41kg of plastic waste per citizen.
According to the SA Plastics Pact’s first annual report, the amount of plastic recycled in 2020 was 43.2% of the total plastics placed on the South African market, with a 35.4% recycling rate for plastic packaging.
In 2018, South Africa collected 519 370 tonnes of plastic waste. Of this amount, 352 000 tonnes were recycled into raw plastics and other products. This represents a 46.3% input recycling rate for all plastic products.
Many people in South Africa make a living from collecting recyclables and exchanging them for money through numerous programmes across the country. There are also companies with a niche to recycle plastic and use it to manufacture goods such as rainwater tanks, outdoor furniture, water bottles and other innovative products. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, despite a large polymer producer in South Africa, the amount of polymer imported still exceeds the exports, resulting in a trade deficit. In 2018, the total trade deficit was R18.3 billion whilst the total value of the domestic industry was estimated at R84.4 billion, a deficit of 21.6 %.
Countries responsible for the biggest plastic pollution in our oceans:
1. India (126.5 million kg).
2. China (70.7 million kg).
3. Indonesia (53.3 million kg).
4. Brazil (38 million kg).
5. Thailand (22.8 million kg).
6. Mexico (3.5 million kg).
7. Egypt 2.5 million kg).
8. United States (2.4 million kg).
9. Japan (1.84 million kg).
10. United Kingdom (0,703 million kg).
Source (CIWEM).