10,000 call for ban on bio-beads

admin
, 21 May 2026
10,000 call for ban on bio-beads
Arthur Sloman, Helena Dollimore MP, Henri Brocklebank and Paul Tinsley-Marshall © Office of Helena Dollimore MP

This week staff from Sussex Wildlife Trust joined Helena Dollimore MP at 10 Downing Street to deliver a petition signed by over 10,000 people, calling on water companies to stop using bio-beads in wastewater treatment due to the risk they pose to the environment. Thank you to everyone who added their voice to this petition.

Helena Dollimore MP and Henri Brocklebank © Kerry Williams
Helena Dollimore MP and Henri Brocklebank © Kerry Williams

Six months after bio-beads first began washing ashore at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, the plastic pellets continue to arrive with every tide. Sussex Wildlife Trust is clear: the only way to prevent further pollution is to stop using bio-beads entirely.

Modern alternatives already exist, membrane technology offers a viable replacement and water companies must make the switch without delay.

Sussex Wildlife Trust's Director of Conservation, Henri Brocklebank, has written to the Minister for Water, Emma Hardy MP, to press the issue and ask when the findings of the Environment Agency incident report will be published and acted upon.

Read our open letter here.

What can I do?

You can write to your local mp and ask them to support the banning of bio-beads and ask for the Environment Agency to release their incident report and recommendations to prevent this happening again.

Watch our video from Parliament Square

10 Downing Street © Helena Dollimore MP
10 Downing Street © Helena Dollimore MP
Henri Brocklebank being interviewed for BBC news © Kerry Williams
Henri Brocklebank being interviewed for BBC news © Kerry Williams

Watch BBC South East Today news coverage

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Comments

  • Lesley Jepps:

    Thanks to everyone who has signed this petition. These beads are lethal and unnecessary.

    23 May 2026 09:18:00

  • Clare Gill:

    Bio Beads are so dangerous and unnecessary. The Sussex coast is so beautiful and need protecting.

    25 May 2026 09:55:00

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