Ecaussinnes, Belgium Ecaussinnes has been known as the hot spot for nurdles pollution, also called pellets. The source of this pollution is the Feluy industrial area where pellet handling and manufacturing companies can be found, such as Total, Katoen Natie, Vos Logistics and Feluy Service Center. For more than 10 years, the City of Ecaussinnes, in Wallonia, has suffered from recurring and massive pellet pollution due to petrochemical build outs in the town.

Pellet spills can be traced back to a neighbouring industrial area, where pellets are produced, handled, and transported by large corporations.
Despite numerous requests from the city, industries have continued with a business-as-usual approach and even denied being the source of the problem.
However, local residents are continuously affected, with reported cases of pellets found for example in agricultural parcels, even for farmers who have switched to organic practices.
The environment is directly threatened by this pollution, with pellets found in the Sennette river and water streams around the city, all leading to the North Sea. In cases of heavy rainfalls, this phenomenon only amplifies.

It is estimated that a staggering 160 thousand tons of pellets have been leaked in the European Union alone.
Ecaussinnes, Belgium 01 02 Arnaud Guérard Alderman for the Environment of the City of Ecaussinnes, says that farmers are finding pellets in their parcels and do not know how to get rid of them. In Ecaussines, pellets can be found on the side of the road, near Total Wash, where trucks transporting pellets are washed and pellets are handled and stored. They can also be found, further afield, in parcels of agricultural land and forest. Kiran Sangar Caroline de Jonghe Coordinator of the River Management Contract, explains how some pellets stay in the river beds and the impossibility of removing them. Share on Facebook Shot on location with the help of Surfrider Spread the word on this issue! We need the government to take action! Explore Next Location Share on Twitter Take Action About Toxic Tours Languages menu Toxic Tours Take Action About Languages