PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Ban the use of bio-beads in water treatment works
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.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
94
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 94/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 94/100,000
Background
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.