Nurdle menace persists a year after MSC Elsa 3 disaster off Kerala coast
The MSC Elsa 3 shipping disaster's aftermath continues to affect Thiruvananthapuram as nurdles remain on local beaches a year later. Despite clean-up efforts, many plastic pellets are still visible, posing environmental concerns. Experts emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring due to the non-biodegradable nature of these pollutants.
- ▪The MSC Elsa 3 sank off the Kerala coast in May 2025, leading to the release of numerous nurdles onto local beaches.
- ▪Clean-up efforts have plateaued, with an estimated recovery of 629-639 metric tons of nurdles so far.
- ▪Local organizations highlight the ongoing threat posed by nurdles, which can persist in the environment for years.
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As the first anniversary of the MSC Elsa 3 shipping disaster draws near, coastal Thiruvananthapuram is still battling the ‘nurdle menace,’ the environmental challenge posed by zillions of tiny plastic pellets that washed ashore after the Liberian-flagged vessel sank off Kerala in May 2025.Despite clean-up efforts made in the immediate aftermath of the nurdle landings, large numbers of the plastic pellets are still visible on beaches in Thiruvananthapuram. For example, on the Kannanthura beach north of Shanghumughom and the Hawa beach (Eve’s Beach) further south at tourist hotspot Kovalam, hundreds of these pellets lie mixed up with other debris and the beach sand.
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