A MASSIVE clean-up operation led by Rother District Council is continuing after the district’s coastline was hit by a pollution incident involving plastic pellets.
Millions of the pellets or bio-beads, which Southern Water has stated are highly likely to originate from their water treatment plant at Eastbourne, washed ashore recently along the beach at Camber.
Within 24 hours of the first reports of the pellets appearing, District Council officers had organised specialist non-profit company, Nurdle to attend the beach to aid the removal of the bio-beads using their specially designed equipment.
Nurdle’s expert advice is that the cleaning operation with this equipment is most effective following Spring tides and so work will continue after each Spring tide over the coming weeks and months. This will allow for as much of the remaining pellets – and any new amount that may wash ashore – to be cleaned up.
In the meantime, the Council, aided by Strandliners, other local volunteers and partner organisations, will continue clearing as many pellets as possible using more manual methods.
Council Leader, Doug Oliver, said: “I’m really proud of the very quick response by our officers to this awful pollution incident, and I’d also like to thank our specialist company, Nurdle for their fantastic work and expert advice.
“I’m also grateful to all the local volunteers who continue to give up their valuable time to support the clean-up operation. However, in order for them and our officers to continue their huge task, they need further specialist equipment and support. We are now in talks with Southern Water to see if some of this equipment can be delivered to Camber as soon as possible.”
Councillor Kathryn Field, portfolio holder for the Environment, said: “I would also like to thank our Rother officers for their work in trying to tackle what is a monumental task.
“I’m very concerned about the ongoing impact this pollution incident will have on our environment. Unfortunately, we could see pellets washing up on our coastline at Camber and elsewhere for the next year or even longer. The situation will have to be constantly monitored, and the clean-up operation deployed at the most efficient times.”
Published: 12th November 2025
