From Fish Protection to Plastic Pellet Loss Prevention

Intake Screens, Inc. (ISI) is applying its self-cleaning fish screen technology to another water protection challenge: keeping plastic pellets out of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Working with industrial facilities proactively investing in pellet loss prevention, ISI has completed pellet retention installations that are in the water and operating today.

Watch the short video below to see how the technology works.

A new application for fish protection technology

ISI’s fish screens allow water to pass while keeping fish out of water intakes. The same fine-screening and automatic brush-cleaning principles can be applied to industrial stormwater systems, allowing water to pass while retaining plastic pellets onsite for recovery.

Plastic pellets—also known as resin pellets or “nurdles”—are raw materials used to manufacture plastic products, including those made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). If pellets reach a facility’s drainage system, stormwater can carry them toward receiving waters. Pellet retention screens provide an additional layer of protection alongside responsible material handling, housekeeping, and spill recovery.

Self-cleaning screens for pellet retention

The video illustrates an ISI screen with 0.75-mm openings installed in a stormwater vault. Water passes through the screen while pellets remain in the vault. Internal and external brushes clean the rotating screen surface, helping maintain flow and leaving retained material available for collection and removal.

ISI tailors screen sizing and configuration to each application, considering stormwater flow, pellet characteristics, debris loading, available space, and maintenance access.

Supporting industry’s investment in water protection

The plastics industry is advancing pellet loss prevention through improved operating practices and investments in containment technology. Programs such as Operation Clean Sweep support these efforts through training, practical guidance, and verification.

The European Union’s Regulation (EU) 2025/2365, with most provisions applying from December 17, 2027, further emphasizes prevention, containment, and cleanup of plastic pellet losses.

ISI’s operating pellet retention installations demonstrate how technology developed for fish protection can support these broader environmental goals. By adapting self-cleaning screening systems to industrial drainage applications, ISI helps facilities keep pellets onsite and protect nearby waterways.

To discuss pellet retention screening for your facility, contact ISI at info@isi-screens.com or (916) 665-2727.