New Report Quantifies Alarming Levels of Plastic Pellet Pollution in International Waterways, Highlights Need for Strong Global Plastic Treaty – Waterkeeper

New Report Quantifies Alarming Levels of Plastic Pellet Pollution in International Waterways, Highlights Need for Strong Global Plastic Treaty

By: Waterkeeper Alliance

News | Press Releases | Waterkeeper Movement | International | Plastic Pollution

A new International Plastic Pellet Count report released by Waterkeeper Alliance, in partnership with 5Gyres, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), and Environment America, reveals that an estimated 200,000 metric tons – or 10 trillion nurdles – make their way into our oceans every year. The result of our first International Plastic Pellet Count that was conducted earlier this year, this report fills critical data gaps with findings from a global citizen science effort to help measure the extent of plastic pellet pollution in waterways around the world.

In April and May 2025, volunteers hand-collected nearly 50,000 plastic pellets at 200 sites across 14 countries and 29 U.S. states. More than 15 Waterkeeper groups organized pellet counts across sites in Africa, Australia, Mexico, and the United States. In one striking example, volunteers with San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper in Texas collected more than 18,000 pellets in just 10 minutes. These findings highlight how widespread and under-addressed this form of pollution remains, even in the absence of formal monitoring or regulation.

This report follows a call from over 100 countries urging international leaders to take decisive action through a strong Global Plastic Treaty at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) in August. While no agreement was reached, urgency was front and center and communities worldwide continue pushing for governments to stop the toxic harm at its source. Now more than ever, this moment represents a critical opportunity to effectively reverse the growing plastic pollution crisis and mitigate the devastating impacts on the environment and human health before time runs out.

“The International Plastic Pellet Count is a stark reminder of why urgent government action is needed to stop plastic pollution at its source,” said Chelsea McDonald, Clean Water Defense Campaign Manager at Waterkeeper Alliance. “Communities need strong policies that end plastic production, ban harmful single-use plastics, and protect those most impacted. Our leaders now have a clear, data-driven mandate to act before the crisis worsens.”

Plastic pellets are everywhere. They are the raw building blocks of everyday plastic products—small, granular pieces used to manufacture everything from packaging to electronics. Yet, when these pellets spill into the environment, they often go untracked and unregulated, contributing significantly to plastic pollution in waterways, oceans, and soils.

“From the shores of Alaska to America’s heartland and the tropics of Brazil, the International Plastic Pellet Count reinforced that plastic pollution is everywhere,” said Environment America Research & Policy Center Executive Director Lisa Frank. “The fact that volunteers found nearly 50,000 pellets shows how easy it is for these tiny plastics to escape into our waterways during production, storage and transport.”

The report findings are indisputable: pellet pollution knows no borders and is a global issue affecting diverse coastlines, waterways, and communities.

  • Internationally, sites in Australia reported the highest number of pre-production plastic pellets with 5,467 counted, followed by Canada with 1,266. Several other countries, including South Africa (165), Hong Kong (147), and Mexico (131), also reported notable counts. 
  • In the United States, a total of 41,975 pre-production plastic pellets were logged across 29 states and Washington, D.C. Texas sites reported the highest counts by far, with 23,115 pellets, most of which were found along the Texas coast. California (4,167), Michigan (3,681), South Carolina (3,046), and Ohio (2,851) also reported substantial amounts. 

“The inaugural International Plastic Pellet Count made it clear that while the scope of our plastic pellet problem is vast, so is the international resolve to do something about it,” said Grace Vickers, Plastic Pellet Free Waters campaign associate with U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “We’re thankful for all the citizen scientists who took part in the first pellet count, and ensuing ones will raise more awareness. But awareness is just a first step: Ultimately, plastic manufacturers and policy makers need to do more to keep plastic pollution out of our waterways.”

Plastic pellet pollution tends to be most concentrated near sites where pellets are manufactured, used, or transported, demonstrating the need for international leaders to tackle plastic pollution at its source, and adopt stronger regulations around plastic pellet production before they enter our ecosystems in the first place.

“Plastic pollution isn’t just invading our cities and waterways; it is breaking down into microplastics that contaminate even the places we hold most sacred, like our national parks and historic sites,” added The 5 Gyres Institute Programs Manager, Nick Kemble. “Plastic pellets are primary microplastics discharged directly into the environment, and tracking this global pollution is essential because it provides the evidence we need to demand real, lasting solutions.”