Quads used for clean-up of plastic pellets stolen

7 hours ago

Cash MurphySouth East

Since last November, various bodies, including Nurdle, have been involved in a major clean-up operation at Camber Sands

Nurdle The Nurdle machine for cleaning up pellets at Camber Sands, East Sussex. A person is driving a quad bike with the machine attached. — Since last November, various bodies, including Nurdle, have been involved in a major clean-up operation at Camber Sands

Three quad bikes worth £25,000 have been stolen from a not-for-profit organisation which is cleaning up a beach where millions of plastic pellets washed up last year.

Nurdle have been removing plastic pellets which spilled onto Camber Sands in East Sussex after an issue at a Southern Water treatment works in October 2025.

This work, recently restarted following a summer break, was aided by three quad bikes loaned to the organisation which were stolen on Saturday night according to Nurdle founder Josh Beech.

Beech told BBC Radio Sussex he is fairly certain the burglary was "targeted", as the organisation had recently received quad bikes on loan.

He said the theft of the bikes, which were sponsored and owned by Honda UK, has impacted the clean-up operation.

He said: "The stormy weather - it's the perfect opportunity for us [Nurdle] to grab loads of plastic off the beach. It [stormy weather] churns up the sand. It refloats the plastic."

The quad bikes are driven along the beach with a 'Nurdle' vacuum machine attached which lifts the pellets.

Beech said a local business has lent Nurdle two quad bikes to allow this work to continue.

Millions of plastic pellets washed ashore in East Sussex and Kent

Strandliners Close up image of lots of black plastic pellet on a beach. — Millions of plastic pellets washed ashore in East Sussex and Kent

Posting on Facebook, Nurdle urged those responsible to "do the right thing" and return the bikes, which it said were stolen after someone cut open its storage container.

"We are a small non-profit organisation, replacing these quad bikes will seriously damage us and our mission," the statement said.

The organisation is cleaning up the beach alongside bodies including Rother District Council and the Environment Agency.

The spill dispersed along a 40-mile (65km) stretch of coastline between Eastbourne and St Mary's Bay in Kent.

Sussex Police has been contacted for comment.

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