(North East Fife)
(LD): To ask the Scottish Government what action it has
taken to reduce the amount of plastic nurdles on beaches.
(S5O-02950)
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural
Environment (Mairi Gougeon): Marine plastics are a
global problem, and we are taking actions to prevent and reduce
nurdle pollution. We are working with the plastics industry to
expand on its successful operation clean sweep guidance. We are
engaging with all sectors that handle pre-production plastics,
and we are exploring the feasibility of a move towards a system
that is auditable, to allow for traceability and accreditation.
On 22 February, at the marine litter symposium, the Scottish
Government committed to co-operative working with the other
British-Irish Council Administrations to further reduce the loss
of pre-production plastics across the supply chain.
: I wish that I had
been at the marine litter symposium. There are particular
concerns about the beaches on the Forth estuary in my
constituency—particularly Ruby bay, where there are millions of
nurdles. I respect the minister’s answer, but what is the
timescale for implementing the measures that she has set out, and
how will that be monitored? If the measures do not work, will the
minister consider legislation?
Mairi Gougeon: It is vital that we work with
industry as far as we can, because this is not just about the
plastics industry. The supply chains around it are complex, which
is why we have to work right across the industry to tackle the
problem in the best way. I would rather look at and exhaust all
those options before we consider further action. I have mentioned
operation clean sweep, which is a plastics industry-led
initiative that is rapidly being adopted by industry members. We
also have a pre-production plastic pellets steering group, which
has a membership that includes
Ineos, PlasticsEurope, the British Plastics
Federation, the Road Haulage Association and the Scottish
Plastics and Rubber Association. With the work that the steering
group will undertake, we can start to have an impact on the
problem. I will also mention the fantastic work of Fidra and of
the Marine Conservation Society, through its great nurdle hunt,
which is raising awareness of this important issue.
