Now an entire community has developed around the tiny plastic pieces that littered south-west beaches after making it through the Warrnambool Sewage Treatment Plant, sparking an emergency government response.

A movement of volunteers dedicating countless hours to sifting through sand to clean up the nurdles has led to greater awareness about the dangers of ocean plastics, and even art projects.

Warrnambool’s Colleen Hughson, who set up the Good Will Nurdle Hunting Facebook page to organise the efforts, said there had been a “tremendous” amount of good will.