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	<title>Comments on: Nurdles</title>
	<link>http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42</link>
	<description>a replica of Ryoan-ji Garden created out of recycled materials</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:19:29 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Colleen Proppé</title>
		<link>http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42#comment-7</link>
		<author>Colleen Proppé</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Mar 2007 05:12:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42#comment-7</guid>
					<description>Hi Judy and  Richard too,

I found this online, and it explains why there are so many nurdles out there... Apparently, they are less than 5mm and are not retained in a mesh that would otherwise filter them out of the water.

"The production and consumption of plastics and the use of throw-away products in our every- day life has increased drastically, generating exponential amounts of urban trash. The trash problem has been addressed by regulators through the “Zero Trash Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs),” which defines trash as “litter and particles of litter that are retained by a 5- mm mesh screen.” The problem comes from the fact that pre-production plastic resin beads, known as “nurdles,” which are the most common contaminant of our beaches (based on research published by SCCWRP), are less than 5 mm. These pellets have never been formed into products. Post consumer plastic fragments less than 5mm in size are also found on our beaches."
I found this info here...
http://www.algalita.org/state_water_project.html

Very interesting.  I did not know about nurdles until today... Very sad.  The good news is that we are in a wave of change, and technology that will find a way to change many of our bad habits.  I remember when I went to CalArts, they had no recycling at all, and I started a recycling bin at the mailroom, and would empty it myself every week.  It was amazing how my little effort eventually became mainstream almost everywhere.

Nurdles... What happens if fish eat these?  It sounds so horrible.  I wonder if there is any way to remove them, other than by hand?  Seems like an enormous problem.

-Colleen</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi Judy and  Richard too,</p>
<p>I found this online, and it explains why there are so many nurdles out there&#8230; Apparently, they are less than 5mm and are not retained in a mesh that would otherwise filter them out of the water.</p>
<p>&#8220;The production and consumption of plastics and the use of throw-away products in our every- day life has increased drastically, generating exponential amounts of urban trash. The trash problem has been addressed by regulators through the “Zero Trash Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs),” which defines trash as “litter and particles of litter that are retained by a 5- mm mesh screen.” The problem comes from the fact that pre-production plastic resin beads, known as “nurdles,” which are the most common contaminant of our beaches (based on research published by SCCWRP), are less than 5 mm. These pellets have never been formed into products. Post consumer plastic fragments less than 5mm in size are also found on our beaches.&#8221;<br />
I found this info here&#8230;<br />
<a href="http://www.algalita.org/state_water_project.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.algalita.org/state_water_project.html</a></p>
<p>Very interesting.  I did not know about nurdles until today&#8230; Very sad.  The good news is that we are in a wave of change, and technology that will find a way to change many of our bad habits.  I remember when I went to CalArts, they had no recycling at all, and I started a recycling bin at the mailroom, and would empty it myself every week.  It was amazing how my little effort eventually became mainstream almost everywhere.</p>
<p>Nurdles&#8230; What happens if fish eat these?  It sounds so horrible.  I wonder if there is any way to remove them, other than by hand?  Seems like an enormous problem.</p>
<p>-Colleen</p>
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		<title>By: RICK VIERHUS</title>
		<link>http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42#comment-241</link>
		<author>RICK VIERHUS</author>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://blog.greenmuseum.org/recycle-ryoanji/?p=42#comment-241</guid>
					<description>Immature sea birds eat these nurdles and die from the poisons that the nurdles absorb. This was reported on KQED-FM on Thursday 4/12 at 1:20pm on Fresh Air. I remember the name of the person being interviewed as Ken West.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Immature sea birds eat these nurdles and die from the poisons that the nurdles absorb. This was reported on KQED-FM on Thursday 4/12 at 1:20pm on Fresh Air. I remember the name of the person being interviewed as Ken West.</p>
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