A nurdle spill in Pennsylvania, USA is the latest in a long line of nurdle spills as a result of train derailments to occur in North America, highlighting how nurdles can be lost throughout the global pellet supply chain.
On Saturday 2nd March, a derailment involving three trains resulted in a carriage containing nurdles to spill its contents into the environment aswell as diesel leaking. The trains, operated by Norfolk Southern, derailed near the town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. The incident has resulted in millions of nurdles spilling into the environment. Of particular concern is the fact the incident took place on a stretch of rail line next to the Lehigh River, with potential for nurdles from the spill to enter the river system and spread further, if the response to the incident is not prompt.
Following the incident, the diesel leak was quickly contained and removed. Norfolk Southern have confirmed they were developing a clean-up plan, which included management of the nurdle pollution, with The National Transportation Safety Board undertaking investigations into the incident.
This is the latest in a series of train derailment incidents across North America, including a major derailment and subsequent fire of carriages carrying chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, which was also operated by Norfolk Southern.
In July 2023, Fidra published the ‘Mapping the Global Plastic Pellet Supply Chain’ report, stating 13 confirmed derailments had spilled nurdles into the environment. Since then, two further nurdle spills from derailments have made national news. This highlights the urgent need for improved legislation for the transport of nurdles by rail and raises the question how many more spills have gone unreported?
You can read our full report here