Operation Clean Sweep
Helping plastic industry members reduce plastic resin pellet loss.
Developed by the international plastics industry, Operation Clean Sweep aims to prevent plastic resin pellet loss. With the support of Tangaroa Blue Foundation and Chemistry Australia, the program is now being rolled out nationwide.
What are plastic resin pellets?
Plastic resin pellets (also known as nurdles) are the feedstock for the plastics industry. They are the basis of all new plastic products, from plastic bags to bottles to containers. When spills aren’t cleaned up, plastic is lost into the environment during manufacturing and transport, entering the stormwater system and ending up in our oceans.
Toxic for marine life
Plastic resin pellets, often mistaken for small fish eggs, pose a significant threat to marine life and seabirds. They can accumulate toxins from seawater, forming toxic pellets that can cause blockages and tissue toxicity in wildlife that ingest them.
Preventing Plastic Feedstock Loss
Operation Clean Sweep works with members of the plastic industry and regulatory bodies to raise awareness, audit plastic supply chain sites, implement best practices, and advise on updated policies. This practical approach empowers industry members to make a tangible difference in reducing plastic pellet loss.
ACHIEVING ZERO PELLET LOSS
The message is simple: plastic resin pellets, flakes, and powder should be contained, reclaimed, and disposed of properly, not lost into the environment.
The AMDI Database has shown that the Great Barrier Reef is impacted by international and local pellet loss, even across some of our most remote areas.
Operation Clean Sweep has benefits beyond the environment: reducing the cost of product loss, improving workplace safety, aligning with social licence-to-operate processes, and achieving sustainability goals.