Hundreds of volunteers in north-west Spain have taken to beaches to clear plastic pellets that have washed ashore. This was reported by “MIR 24” with reference to El Pais.
In December, several multi-ton containers of granular plastic fell overboard from a merchant ship sailing in Portuguese territorial waters. These pellets are used to make everyday items, but they are toxic and do not biodegrade.
“These little plastic balls are an environmental problem because they confuse fish into thinking they are fish eggs”, - said Cristobal Lopez of the environmental group Ecologuestas en Acción.
The Spaniards decided not to wait for government action and began cleaning the beaches themselves. The granules are collected using gloves and ordinary colanders.
