Overview

Nurdle was called in to address a serious accidental release of plastic cable granulate from a copper recycling operation. The spill had spread into a woodland and surrounding freshwater lake, threatening both the environment and local wildlife.

The Challenge

Plastic cable granulate poses a unique cleanup problem. The small, dense regrind scatter widely and embed themselves into root systems, soil, and waterways, making conventional cleanup nearly impossible.

Our Response

Over a 14-day operation, our team deployed Nurdle’s largest vacuum system to recover plastic material along the edges of the lake. By carefully skirting the shoreline and working through root systems, we successfully extracted the plastic without disturbing surrounding habitats.

  • 15 tonnes of plastic cable granulate removed

  • 70% cleanup achieved across all targeted areas

  • Full access to root systems thanks to our vacuum extraction technology

Nurdle machine by the lake
woodland plastic cleanup

Results and next steps

Thanks to the success of this first phase, Nurdle was invited back to continue restoration efforts in June 2025, expanding cleanup to other affected areas of the site. Check out cleanup 2 here

Cable cleanup – Stage 2

Why it matters?

This project demonstrates the scale of plastic waste problems beyond coastlines. Inland waterways and woodlands are just as vulnerable, and Nurdle’s technology provides an effective, scalable solution to ensure no plastic is left behind.