Small Spills, Major Pollution

The OCS NZ team has identified a significant volume of plastic pellets along the Māngere Inlet shoreline.

What stands out in this find is the variation. The pellets differ in colour and level of degradation, suggesting they have accumulated over a long period rather than being the result of a single recent spill.

This kind of pollution has a double impact: it puts pressure on a unique and fragile ecosystem, while also affecting the credibility of our industry.

Every pellet is visible evidence of work still to be done.

Many plastics businesses already have strong controls in place to prevent pellet loss. But pellets are small, mobile and remarkably good at finding pathways out of a site.

OCS NZ advisory audits provide a fresh set of eyes, helping identify gaps that can be difficult to spot from inside your own operation. It's a practical way to strengthen existing processes and move our industry towards one where every pellet, flake and powder stays where it belongs: on the production line.

Prevent tomorrow's pellet loss through OCS NZ. Help us recover what we can today.

Find out how your site can become OCS NZ certified: https://operationcleansweep.org.nz or email OCS@org.nz

Join us for Operation Clean Up Week 2026

Plastics NZ is currently coordinating at least 8 clean-up events across the country. Check them out here for more details.

Dates: 9-13 November 2026

Locations: Auckland, Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Whanganui, Christchurch