Community groups have gotten creative with ways to collect and filter microplastics pollution from sandy coastal beaches and riverbanks. Read on below for methods that range from standardized protocols, to clean up strategies, to youth-oriented activities. Lead image from [@eustatic](https://publiclab.org/profile/eustatic) [in this post](https://publiclab.org/n/24912) <br> ### Methods for filtering microplastics from sand <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-6"> <div class="card"> <a class="card-img-top img" style="overflow: hidden; height:14em;"> <img style="width: 100%; display: inline" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/5614/25307546649_02ebcf08b2_w.jpg" alt="riverbank"> </a> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title">Larger microplastics sampling on a riverbank</h5> <ul> <li>The <a href="https://www.plastic-pirates.eu/en">Plastic Pirates</a> campaign in the EU outlines a method in their <a href="https://www.plastic-pirates.eu/sites/default/files/document/2020-08/PPEU_Aktionsheft_EN_webRZ.pdf">project booklet</a> (pg. 26) for sampling microplastics larger than 1 mm from sandy riverbanks.</li> <li>Great for young people aged 10-16 years! The Plastic Pirates website has support materials and guides for teachers and youth, and instructions on how to build a sampling sieve.</li> <li>Data produced: larger microplastic pieces per square meter.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-6"> <div class="card"> <a class="card-img-top img" style="overflow: hidden; height:14em;"> <img style="width: 100%; display: inline" src="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/node-image/public/mdmap-toolbox/bannerProtocolQuizSectionPhoto.jpg?itok=bNzhbkQZ" alt="NOAAshorelinesurvey"> </a> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title">Beach transect surveys</h5> <ul> <li><a href="https://civiclaboratory.nl/2015/07/25/microplastic-survey/">‘Universal protocol’ for sampling microplastics density</a> on a sandy beach, outlined by <a href="https://publiclab.org/profile/maxliboiron">@maxliboiron</a> of <a href="https://civiclaboratory.nl/">CLEAR</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/research/monitoring-toolbox">Protocols and data collection sheets</a> for collecting all marine debris (not just microplastics) from shorelines, developed by the <a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/">US NOAA Marine Debris Program</a>.</li> <li>More involved survey protocols with specific materials needed because you’re measuring out and sampling a particular area. Protocols are standardized to enable comparison between different sites and regions.</li> <li>Data produced: accumulations studies give debris density over time; standing-stock studies give debris density; photos.</li> </ul> <p class="card-text"><small class="text-muted">Image: <a href="https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/node-image/public/mdmap-toolbox/bannerProtocolQuizSectionPhoto.jpg?itok=bNzhbkQZ">NOAA</a>, public domain</small></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row mt-4"> <div class="col-6"> <div class="card"> <a class="card-img-top img" style="overflow: hidden; height:14em;"> <img style="width: 100%; display: inline" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50308560753_d4abf4b203_b.jpg" alt="scoopandsift"> </a> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"><a href="https://publiclab.org/notes/eustatic/09-05-2020/sweep-and-pan-vs-scoop-and-sift-methods-for-nurdle-retrieval">Sweep and Pan vs. Scoop and Sift: Methods for Nurdle Retrieval</a></h5> <p class="card-text">A post from <a href="https://publiclab.org/profile/eustatic">@eustatic</a> that outlines different ways to clean up nurdles (plastic pellets) with readily available tools. Some of these methods and tools could be incorporated into other survey methods described above.</p> <p class="card-text"><small class="text-muted">Image: <a href="https://publiclab.org/notes/eustatic/09-05-2020/sweep-and-pan-vs-scoop-and-sift-methods-for-nurdle-retrieval">@eustatic</a>, CC BY SA</small></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-6"> <div class="card"> <a class="card-img-top img" style="overflow: hidden; height:14em;"> <img style="width: 100%; display: inline" src="https://publiclab.org/i/41473.png" alt="meshbox"> </a> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"><a href="https://publiclab.org/n/24912">Commercial mesh box for filtering plastic nurdles from a river beach</a></h5> <p class="card-text">Another post from <a href="https://publiclab.org/profile/eustatic">@eustatic</a> showing a simple and highly effective method for sorting large numbers of nurdles (plastic pellets) from sand.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <br> <br> ### Activities Posts written by Public Lab community members and tagged with `activity:filter-plastics-sand` will appear here. You can post your own activity using the button below. [activities:filter-plastics-sand] <br> ### Questions Questions from the Public Lab community tagged with `question:filter-plastics-sand` will appear here. Ask your own question using the button below! [questions:filter-plastics-sand] <br> _Have you used other methods to filter microplastics debris from sand? Please [edit this wiki page](https://publiclab.org/wiki/edit/filter-microplastics-from-sand)!_