Every NSW waterway contaminated with microplastics, study finds
Every waterway sampled contained microplastics, according to the report. (Supplied: EPA)
In short:
A state government study found microplastics in all 120 NSW estuaries sampled, with 19 per cent rated E for severe contamination.
Experts are calling for urgent action and targeting sources such as foam, turf fragments and industrial pellets, while prioritising urban catchments.
What's next?
The report urges expanded monitoring of plastics, sediments, and estuarine wildlife to track impacts over time.
Every waterway sampled in New South Wales is contaminated with microplastics, according to a major state government report.
The Broadscale Microplastic Assessment of NSW Estuaries, conducted between 2021 and 2024, sampled 120 waterways, from remote rivers to urban estuaries.
About 19 per cent of waterways were given an "E" rating, the worst grade, for severe contamination.
Minnamurra River was one of the most heavily contaminated waterways in NSW. (Supplied: EPA)
Among those was the Minnamurra River on the state's South Coast, a waterway beloved for its swimming, fishing, and biodiversity.
"Every single one of [the 120 waterways] had microplastic in them," NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said.
"What is really quite shocking is that places like the Minnamurra River show that it's actually a really serious matter."
Penny Sharpe says there is an urgent need to tackle microplastic pollution in New South Wales waterways. (ABC Illawarra: Kelly Fuller)
The minister said the Minnamurra River had "one of the highest levels of microplastic within it".
"What we've learned from this study is that where there's a lot of development that's concentrated into smaller waterways, that's where the plastic tends to accumulate," she said.
"We just need to reduce plastics in the environment in every way we can."
'Comparable to China'
Cooks River, one of NSW's most urbanised waterways, records high microplastic levels, highlighting the impact of dense development on estuarine pollution. (Supplied: EPA)
Other hot spots were the Cooks River, Dee Why Lagoon, Muddy Creek, Toongabbie Creek (Upper Parramatta River), Throsby Creek, Coffs Creek, South West Rocks Creek, Manly Lagoon, Parramatta River and Middle Harbour Creek.
The report found the estuaries had roughly 2 microplastics per cubic metre of water, which sat towards the middle range of globally reported surface-water values and were "comparable to urbanised systems in China".
"Levels exceed those documented in several European and offshore Australian waters … although they remain below the most extreme contamination hotspots reported worldwide," the report stated.
A manta net was dragged behind a 4-metre canoe fitted with a motor on the Parramatta River. (Supplied: EPA)
Scientists from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) used a floating, stainless-steel-framed net towed by a 4-metre canoe rigged with a motor to skim the waterways.
Ms Sharpe said the clean-up of rivers like the Minnamurra needed to be done in collaboration with local councils.
Recommendations for action
The EPA said the study would provide a baseline for future action.
It recommended long-term monitoring, seasonal sampling and trend tracking, with an expanded scope to include smaller particles, and sampling during flood and base-flow events.
An example of what was found in the Cooks River. (Supplied: EPA)
It urged the development of standardised national methods to assess effects on estuarine species.
It recommended regulation, containment or phase-out of priority plastic sources, including foam packaging, artificial turf fragments and industrial pellets.
It also called for focused interventions, particularly in the Hawkesbury–Sydney region, for stormwater treatment, litter-flow analysis, and stricter land-use controls to reduce microplastic contamination at its source.
EPA chief executive officer Tony Chappell said the report identified the spread of the fragments.
"Unlike glass or aluminium cans that might end up in the environment that ultimately break down into something inert like sand, plastic never breaks down," he said.
"It only breaks up into smaller and smaller particles. And these particles then get reabsorbed into plants and animals and soil, and ultimately into our own bodies."
He said the study was a wake-up call.
"That industry and regulators like the EPA need to work together to do more."
'Ubiquitous' microplastics
Microplastics have been associated with a number of human health risks, however scientists from the University of Queensland raised concerns about the accuracy of some testing being used, amid fears it may be overstating the level of plastics found.
Water expert associate professor Ian Wright, from Western Sydney University's School of Science, described the report's findings as "very, very confronting".
Ian Wright says microplastics are an "incredibly difficult problem to solve". (ABC Central West: Micaela Hambrett)
"This is the tip of the iceberg … it is everywhere," he said.
Dr Wright said plastic contamination was "out of control", but praised the government for trying to do something.
"So my reaction is triple thumbs up, thanks for tackling this, probably too late, but fantastic start," he said.
"I read this report, then I went to my local shops to get some ingredients for dinner, and I walked into the vegetables area, and ... it was like a kaleidoscope of plastic."
Just some of the evidence gathered as part of the EPA research. (Supplied: EPA)
Dr Wright said interventions like litter traps may help in urban rivers, but containment at the source was the key.
"Microplastics are less than 5 millimetres that would probably block filters … and contribute to flooding," he said.
"It's going to be an incredibly difficult problem to solve."
Kiama Council said it would investigate methods to help reduce microplastics in local waterways.
The council's mayor and chief executive are due to meet NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson and representatives from Sydney Water this month to discuss ways to improve Kiama's wastewater infrastructure.
In November, the NSW government said it was banning expanded plastic packaging, plastic pizza savers, plastic bread tags, and plastic balloon sticks and ties.