NurdleTurtle
Beach cleanup volunteers at sunrise
Cleaning Up Plastic. Rewarding People.

Clean Oceans Begin With One Person.

NurdleTurtle rewards people for removing plastic pollution while helping businesses and communities create measurable environmental impact.

Start a Cleanup Become a Sponsor
Macro photograph of nurdle plastic pellets beside a coin for scale

Nurdles shown at actual size — roughly the diameter of a lentil

The Hidden Threat

What Are Nurdles?

Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets — roughly the size of a lentil — used to manufacture nearly every plastic product in the world. Millions escape during production and transportation, washing into rivers and oceans where fish, birds, and sea turtles mistake them for food. They persist in the environment for centuries and are among the largest sources of primary microplastic pollution.

8 million

tons of plastic enter our oceans every year

The Journey of Plastic

How Plastic Reaches the Ocean

Plastic Factories

Trillions of nurdles are manufactured annually as the raw material for all plastic products.

Transportation

Pellets are shipped in bulk containers, where spills are common and largely unreported.

Spills & Leaks

Industrial accidents and improper handling release millions of pellets into the environment.

Storm Drains

Rain washes spilled pellets into storm drains, bypassing water treatment systems entirely.

Rivers & Waterways

Pellets travel through rivers and streams, accumulating in sediment and on riverbanks.

The Ocean

Once at sea, nurdles float for decades, absorbing toxic chemicals and spreading globally.

Marine Wildlife

Sea turtles, seabirds, and fish ingest nurdles, causing starvation, injury, and death.

Human Food Chain

Microplastics have been found in seafood, drinking water, and even human blood.

Our Approach

Technology Meets Community.

We've built a platform that makes environmental action rewarding, verifiable, and scalable.

01

Discover

Find cleanup opportunities near you using our interactive map and location-based alerts.

02

Collect

Remove plastic pollution from beaches, rivers, parks, and neighborhoods.

03

Verify

Submit photos, GPS data, and weight measurements for transparent impact tracking.

04

Earn

Receive cash, gift cards, badges, and community recognition for your contributions.

05

Impact

Businesses fund cleanups, communities become cleaner, and the data drives policy change.

How It Works

Four Simple Steps to a Cleaner Planet.

Find

Discover Cleanups Nearby

Browse our interactive map to find scheduled cleanups in your area — beaches, rivers, parks, trails, and neighborhoods. Filter by date, type, and distance.

Collect

Remove Plastic Pollution

Pick up nurdles, plastic bottles, fishing line, food wrappers, microplastics, and marine debris. Every piece removed makes a difference.

Verify

Prove Your Impact

Upload photos, confirm your GPS location, and log the weight of plastic collected. Optional AI image recognition helps identify and categorize debris.

Earn

Get Rewarded

Receive cash payments, gift cards, environmental badges, community recognition, corporate rewards, and verified volunteer hours for your service.

Success Stories

Real People. Real Impact.

Share Your Cleanup Story

Did you organize a cleanup, collect plastic from your local beach, or inspire your community to take action? We'd love to feature your story here.

Submit Your Story
FAQ

Common Questions.

Everything you need to know about NurdleTurtle — from how rewards work to how businesses can get involved.

Still have questions? Contact us
What are nurdles?

Nurdles are tiny plastic pellets about the size of a lentil, used as the raw material to manufacture virtually all plastic products. Billions escape into the environment each year during production and transport, making them one of the most pervasive forms of plastic pollution.

How do rewards work?

After completing a verified cleanup, you earn points based on the weight and type of plastic collected. Points can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, environmental badges, and other rewards. Corporate sponsors fund the reward pool.

Who pays for cleanups?

Corporate sponsors, nonprofits, and government partners fund cleanup rewards through our platform. Businesses can sponsor specific locations, events, or ongoing programs as part of their ESG and sustainability commitments.

Can anyone participate?

Yes! NurdleTurtle is open to individuals, families, students, schools, businesses, and organizations of all kinds. You just need to create a free account and find a cleanup near you.

How are cleanups verified?

We use a combination of GPS location data, photo submissions, and weight measurements to verify cleanups. Optional AI image recognition helps identify and categorize the types of plastic collected.

Can schools join?

Absolutely. We have dedicated school programs with lesson plans, citizen science activities, service-learning hour tracking, and field trip tools. Teachers can register their class and manage student participation.

Can businesses sponsor events?

Yes. Businesses can sponsor specific cleanup events, geographic areas, or ongoing programs. Sponsors receive detailed impact reports, sustainability metrics, and branded recognition in the app and on our website.

Can I organize my own cleanup?

Yes! Any registered user can create and publish a cleanup event. You set the location, date, time, and goals. We help you promote it, track participation, and measure impact.

How is impact measured?

We track plastic weight removed, nurdle counts, miles of coastline cleaned, volunteer hours, GPS-verified locations, and more. All data is aggregated into transparent impact reports available to sponsors, schools, and the public.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Join volunteers, businesses, and communities already cleaning up our planet.

Join the Movement Sponsor a Cleanup