Beach Cleanup
Nurdles, or “mermaid tears,” are small plastic pellets about the size of a lentil that are the building blocks for most plastic goods ranging from plastic water bottles to cars. Unfortunately, they often find their way into our oceans and rivers through transportation, effluent pipes, or industrial spillage. Thus, contributing to microplastic pollution.
On October 24, 2017 Durban’s eyes were opened to the global threat nurdles pose to our oceans when a freak storm resulted in two billion nurdles spilling into the Durban harbor and quickly spreading along the entire KZN coastline.
“The microplastics are hugely detrimental to both humans, as well as marine ecosystems, quickly finding their way into the food system where they cause ulceration, starvation and death. We’re particularly concerned as it’s been discovered that these nurdles follow the same ocean currents as turtles. The ocean is the earth’s life force, and if we don’t get on top of this plastic crisis now, the ocean is literally going to choke. It’s now or never.” – Clare Swithenbank-Bowman
Mermaid Tear Catcher™
In association with the World Nurdle Association, Litter4Tokens developed and introduced the award winning Mermaid Tear Catcher™ at the 2019 Ballito Pro.
This disk sifts plastic from sand and acts as a Frisbee, making it both educational and fun!
Nurdle Trommel
Litter4tokens is also the partner and manufacturer for the first Nurdle Trommel for South Africa and Africa. These are supplied for all beach clean ups across the country and can be sponsored by various organisations or businesses.
This drum like mechanism is a bigger version of the Mermaid Tear Catcher™ and sand can be shovelled into the drum and microplastic collected and removed from beaches and riverbeds.
The Basking Shark Machine
The long-term solution is the large scale Basking Shark machine which removes small, medium and large shoreline plastic efficiently, by sucking it in a massive tube, thereby eradicating microplastics and improving the health of marine ecosystems.
AKA big brother of the Nurdle Trommel, it is a long-term solution to make the biggest impact protecting our ocean.
