Clean-Up Of Millions Of Plastic Pellets Resumes On East Sussex Beaches

Work to remove millions of plastic pellets from beaches in East Sussex has resumed following a summer break.

The pellets, known as biobeads, entered the sea after a spill at a Southern Water wastewater treatment works in Eastbourne in October 2025.

They subsequently washed up at Camber Sands and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, as well as St Mary's Bay in Kent.

A clean-up operation began in November, but work at Camber Sands was paused over the summer because of the beach's popularity with visitors.

Southern Water says the operation will continue through the winter, with work also planned at Rye. No completion date has been given.

The company says the clean-up is being funded from its profits and will not affect necessary investment or services.

Josh Beech, founder of Nurdle, which is carrying out the work at Camber Sands, said a clean-up of biobead pollution on this scale had never been attempted before.

He said vacuum equipment was being used to remove the pellets, although locating those buried beneath the sand remained a challenge.

Scientists at King's College London previously found heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and cadmium, on pellets collected from Camber Sands.

Linda Morrison, who is selling a holiday let in the area, said she believed the spill had contributed to a fall in overnight visitors.

She said the beach was a major attraction for Camber and concerns about safety could discourage families from visiting.

An investigation into the spill is continuing.

Southern Water says it is examining additional ways to contain and control the biobeads at its Eastbourne site to help prevent a similar incident in the future.