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Open Ban the use of bio-beads in water treatment works

Created by Sofia Gurney
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Ban the use of bio-beads in sewage and water treatment facilities, and enforce strict regulations to ensure no further environmental contamination occurs during the transition.

Bio-bead spills can cause serious pollution emergencies. In October 2025 tonnes of microplastic beads were released from the Eastbourne treatment works and washed up along the three-mile stretch of Camber Sands, which includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We are concerned that dead seals, porpoises, swans and other marine wildlife could be linked to bio-bead spills. These bio-beads are microplastics and used across the UK.

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  • Related activity

    Government responds to petition the use of biobeads in waste water treatment

    The Government has responded to a public (paper) petition calling for water companies and the Environment Agency to end the use of plastic biobeads in wastewater treatment. The petition was presented to the House of Commons by Helena Dollimore MP on behalf of residents of the United Kingdom.

    The petition asks the House of Commons to ask the Government to work with water companies and the Environment Agency to end the use of plastic biobeads in wastewater treatment.

    In response to the petition's request, the Government states that polluting waterways is unacceptable, and Southern Water has taken responsibility for the November 2025 pollution incident at Camber Sands involving the discharge of bio-beads. The Environment Agency is investigating and enforcement action will be decided in the coming weeks. As of 27 February 2026, 1,408 kg of beads (30.5% of the estimated loss) have been recovered, with further clean-up ongoing in collaboration with partner organisations. No confirmed wildlife deaths have been linked to the incident, although post-mortem results for two seals are awaited. The incident is graded category 1 (most severe), and water companies have been reminded of the need to maintain infrastructure properly, alongside government work to strengthen resilience standards and reduce pollution.

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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 18 June 2026.