The Council has been in communication with Southern Water since the start of the pollution incident which has had a huge impact on Camber and on other areas of our coast. We have been seeking answers to our questions about the pellets and the clean up operation. This has included a formal letter sent from our Council Leader, Doug Oliver and Chief Executive, Lorna Ford. You can read our letter and Southern Water’s response below.

What are RDC / Southern Water doing to clean up the biobeads?

After biobeads were first discovered on Camber Beach on 04/11/2025, Rother District Council (RDC) commissioned the non-profit organisation Nurdle to conduct a specialised microplastic clean-up. Using vacuum-based equipment, Nurdle spent five days clearing the affected area and removed a significant portion of the biobeads, though not all could be collected.

Following expert advice, Nurdle will return after the next spring tide ( which occur twice every month) on 5 December 2025, when remaining biobeads are likely to be washed further up the beach and easier to recover.

In the meantime, RDC and partners continue clean-up efforts using environmentally sensitive methods. Southern Water has sourced specialist equipment that separates plastics from beach sediment using seawater and the buoyancy of the biobeads. Daily manual collections by RDC officers and Southern Water staff will continue, with material temporarily stored at Central Car Park before processing. Recovered plastics will be returned to Southern Water; cleaned natural sediment will be returned to the beach.

Given the scale of the issue and the likelihood of further deposits, this will be an ongoing operation. Nurdle is expected to return after each spring tide, supported by regular manual collection and processing until the beach returns to baseline conditions.

How can you help?

We are extremely grateful to everyone who has volunteered so far. We are now looking at the next phases of the operation, which will again include the use of heavy machinery, and we are no longer asking for volunteers at this time. Please keep an eye on our social media channels and website over the coming weeks for further updates on the pollution incident and clean-up operation.

How and where do you report findings of biobeads?

If, during your normal activities, you happen to notice biobeads, please report this to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 (free to call), quoting reference: 2440833.

You can also report findings online at: www.gov.uk/report-water-pollution.