Bill of the Day: Ending Plastic Pellet Pollution
Updated on March 4th, 2025.
Preproduction plastic (AKA pellets or nurdles) is oftentimes spilled during production and transportation. Image Credit: Environment Virginia.
Why Act Now to Address Plastic Pollution?
Plastic pellets, also called nurdles, are a type of microplastic commonly used in plastic manufacturing, from milk jugs to car bumpers. Pellets do not easily break down naturally in the environment, taking 100 to 1,000 years to break down and persisting in our bodies, water, food, soil, and wildlife. They enter our environment via multiple pathways, often through spills during production and transport or washed down stormdrains and entering nearby waterways. Pellets leach toxic chemicals like DDT, PCBs, and mercury, which can cause cancer, harm to fetal and infant development, and impairment to the nervous system. Animals that consume plants from contaminated soil or drink contaminated water absorb these toxic chemicals, accumulating inside other animals higher up the food chain.
Despite the alarming impacts, laws and regulations have not kept up with plastic pellet pollution. Polluters are often not held accountable for controlling, monitoring, or cleaning up pollution caused by plastic pellets. Virginia must take immediate action to reduce or eliminate plastic pellet pollution. With plastic production expected to quadruple by 2050, reducing plastic pollution is necessary to mitigate its growing impact on our wildlife, environment, and public health.
Every community deserves to live free from the threat of harmful pollution. You can take a deeper dive into eliminating plastic pollution in Our Common Agenda. To learn more, read our “Eliminating Plastic Pollution” policy paper.
Plastic Pollution Bills to Support in the General Assembly
Legislators have introduced a bill that addresses plastic pellet pollution in the Commonwealth:
(Delegate Nadarius Clark) Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to establish a program to address the spillage and waste of plastic pellets during production and transport. The bill also mandates zero discharge of plastic pellets in stormwater permits into water sources or land outside a facility.
Take Action
HB 2178 was left and defeated in the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (ACNR) Committee.
Looking ahead, the Governor will amend/reject/veto bills by midnight on Monday, March 24th. Legislators will reconvene on Wednesday, April 2nd to vote on all of the governor’s amendments.
Join us on Thursday, April 3rd for a recap led by environmental experts to hear about our biggest victories, missed opportunities, and surprise outcomes during the General Assembly session!