Plastics spill from Queensland’s Bribie Island could harm wildlife for years, expert warns

CSIRO says 40,000 small discs accidentally discharged from research centre into the ocean are ‘non-toxic’ and ‘highly stable’

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A south-east Queensland plastics spill in which 40,000 small discs were flushed into the ocean could threaten birds and marine life for years to come, an expert says, amid criticism of CSIRO’s handling of the breach.

A CSIRO spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that 40 litres of plastics known as biomedia were accidentally discharged from the Bribie Island Research Centre on Monday afternoon, with many washing up on nearby Woorim beach.

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