Plastic pellets reappear on Costa Daurada beaches after heavy rain

Plastic pellets, tiny microplastics under five millimetres used as industrial raw material, have reappeared on beaches across the Costa Daurada, especially in La Pineda, Vila-seca, following heavy winter rain in the Camp de Tarragona region.

The latest significant appearance of these pellets occurred after rainfall between 16 and 18 January, when a municipal beach inspector in La Pineda documented thousands of microplastics on the sand. According to a report by the NGO Good Karma Projects, water runoff from petrochemical complex facilities in Tarragona that handle these plastics carries them through drains to streams and then to the coast. The organisation states that pellets can be found on any Costa Daurada beach, including protected areas like La Marquesa beach in the Ebro Delta Natural Park.

Clara Comas, project manager and spokesperson for Good Karma Projects, said: "The pellets we see on La Pineda beach are just the tip of the iceberg."

Environmental Impact of Plastic Pellets

Environmental groups have warned for years about the harmful effects of these pellets. Studies show they alter the physical and chemical properties of soil, potentially changing terrestrial microbiology and plant growth. They also accumulate toxic chemical substances on their surface, particularly persistent organic pollutants that resist degradation, bioaccumulate, and are harmful to human health. In marine environments, they float and disperse easily, leading many marine animals to ingest them. Once released, they are almost impossible to recover due to their easy dispersion by water and wind.

Vila-seca Town Council has been a leading voice in demanding measures against these spills. Mayor Pere Segura acknowledges that the nature of this pollution makes it difficult to assign specific responsibility. "Traceability is interrupted. If pellets arrive and I can identify them, I can know who manufactured them, but not who is responsible for the spill," he explained. The problem, he added, is that pellets go through many stages before becoming a final product. "They are manufactured, transported, handled, stored, and then arrive at a factory that transforms them, for example, into a dustpan. In this entire value chain, it is very difficult to attribute responsibility to anyone."

This issue was addressed during negotiations for a new European directive, approved in April last year.

New European Regulations to Tackle Pellet Loss

The new European regulation aims to reduce microplastics released into the environment by 30%. It will require economic operators in the European Union handling more than five tonnes of plastic pellets to take specific measures to prevent losses. The rule sets obligations for the entire supply chain, including production, transport, storage, packaging, and container cleaning. It will also affect sea, land, and river transporters.

In cases of accidental losses or incidents, operators and transporters must immediately notify emergency services to minimise impact and prevent further spills. Companies will also need to develop and implement risk management plans at all facilities, with specific measures for each supply chain phase. The regulation also sets obligations for cleaning tasks in the event of accidental losses.

Authorities will be able to conduct unannounced inspections and suspend activities if they detect serious risks to the environment or health. For serious infringements, fines could exceed 3% of the company's annual turnover in the European Union, which Mayor Segura considers one of the most important aspects. "It's a tough sanctioning regime and makes everyone pay attention," he said. States may also opt for criminal sanctions. The regulation also establishes that those affected by health damages resulting from infringements will have the right to claim compensation. Additionally, citizens and NGOs will be able to file complaints about specific cases.

The provisions of the regulation will not be effective until well into 2027, with those related to maritime transport applying from 2028. "We would like it to be applied immediately, but we understand that everything takes its time," Segura stated.

Current Measures and Industry Response

To address the pellet crisis, the Zero Pellets Platform was established in 2023. It includes institutions such as the Catalan government, the Tarragona Provincial Council, Vila-seca Town Council, the Port Authority of Tarragona, and rural agents. Industry entities like the Spanish Association of Plastic Industrialists (ANAIP) and the Pan-European Association of Plastic Raw Material Manufacturers also participate, alongside the Association of Chemical Companies of Tarragona (AEQT) and companies such as Dow Chemical Ibérica, Elix Polymers, Ercros, Basell Poliolefinas, Repsol Química, SK Primacor, Transformadora de Etileno, and Katoen Natie.

AEQT-associated companies involved in plastic polymers say their commitment to reducing involuntary pellet losses is "unquestionable." The entity has promoted the adherence of plastic value chain companies to the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) programme. This voluntary responsible management initiative aims to ensure the application of good cleaning and control practices in all operations handling plastic pellets to prevent leaks into the environment and obtain a European approved certification.

According to the AEQT, certifications obtained in December 2022 and July 2023 were pioneering in both the Spanish and European sectors. Currently, all companies related to plastic polymers in Tarragona have OCS certification. However, the programme is privately owned by the Plastics Industry Association and the American Chemistry Council, which are large plastic industry companies. In Spain, ANAIP manages the licence and is also part of the Zero Pellet Loss Platform, leading some environmental groups to question its real control function.

Reception of New European Regulation

Regarding the impact of the new European regulation, the AEQT states that its associated companies are "well positioned" to meet most requirements due to their commitment to the OCS programme. The sector views the regulation positively because it sets homogeneous criteria for the entire value chain.

Good Karma Projects, however, points out some gaps in the new regulation, such as the exemption of companies managing less than 1,500 tonnes of plastic material annually from more demanding measures like periodic audits or annual certifications. Mayor Segura is optimistic about the new European directive, believing it opens "a more hopeful horizon." He also argues that a working path has begun with a methodology he considers correct and with "ambitious" objectives. In this regard, he trusts in collaboration between administrations to reduce this problem to "an anecdotal issue."

Segura explained that the town council has repeatedly raised this issue with the Generalitat, to whom he attributes environmental control powers. He warned that if new corrective and preventive measures are not adopted, they will take "the actions that correspond."