Dive into education and plastic pollution at this year’s Great Islands Clean Up 

Participate in the Great Nurdle Hunt

||| FROM JESS NEWLEY for GREAT ISLANDS CLEAN UP |||

The Great Islands Clean Up is just around the corner! On Saturday, April 26, communities across San Juan County will unite to pick up litter and marine debris from roadsides, beaches, and public lands. It’s a day of action, connection, and mindful caretaking—and this year, there’s a special opportunity to go even deeper. 

Join Friends of the San Juans for the “Great Nurdle Hunt” at Jackson Beach, anytime between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, and discover how tiny plastics can have a huge impact. Led by Community Science and Education Director Jess Newley, this unique and educational event will teach participants about one of the ocean’s most insidious pollutants: Nurdles. 

What are nurdles? 
Nurdles are lentil-sized plastic pellets used as the raw material in the production of nearly all plastic products. Spilled during manufacturing or transport, they often end up in the ocean, where they are mistaken for food by marine wildlife. Because they are made of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene and they absorb even more toxic chemicals from the surrounding water, nurdles can become poisonous morsels for fish, birds, and other animals that ingest them—threatening both wildlife and human health through the food web. 

Despite their size, nurdles are a major global pollutant. In fact, they’re considered the second-largest direct source of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. And because they don’t biodegrade, they persist in the ecosystem for decades, often washing up on beaches like Jackson Beach, where thousands of them can be found.  

At this event, participants will: 

• Learn how nurdles travel from factories to our shores 
• Explore the hidden world of microplastic pollution 
• Collect and document nurdle data as part of the global “Great Nurdle Hunt” initiative 
• Make a tangible difference in keeping our beaches clean and our waters safe 

Whether you’re a long-time volunteer or new to the Clean Up, this is a great opportunity to combine hands-on action with meaningful learning. Bring your curiosity, your sense of adventure, and maybe even a magnifying glass—because these little plastics can be tricky to spot! Kids love to find them! 

Let’s work together to protect the beauty and biodiversity of the San Juan Islands. Visit sanjuans.org/events for more information. Together, we can keep plastic out of paradise.