By Isle of Wight Observer
The Planet Aware team, and its dedicated volunteers, have marked an inspiring year of action to protect the Island’s coastline. Over the past 12 months they have organised 29 beach cleans, six nurdle hunts, and a wide range of educational and community activities aimed at tackling marine pollution and promoting sustainable living.
These efforts have removed an estimated five tonnes of rubbish – more than five skips of waste – much of it linked to shipping and fishing.
Among the more unusual finds was an enormous length of rope retrieved from the shoreline. Plastic remains the biggest polluter, with cigarette butts, bottles, netting, rope, nurdles and microplastics topping the list. In summer, food packaging and takeaway litter continue to blight beaches.
Sarah, from the Planet Aware committee, said: “Every clean-up tells a story of time freely given, team-work, and a shared love for our coast. Plastic is useful, but we must reduce its use and press for stronger government policy to target packaging, cigarette litter, and fishing waste. Every item removed is one less washed back to sea.”
Planet Aware’s nurdle hunts, which survey tiny plastic pellets spilled during transport or production, have attracted growing interest from residents, families and schools. In 2026, the group plans to expand its educational outreach, host its second Island gathering on nurdle pollution in February, and support Portsmouth University students with marine plastics research.
Planet Aware welcomes new volunteers to join its committee and beach events. Email info@planetaware.co.uk