The number of plastic bags found on UK beaches has dropped by 80% in a decade, thanks to a mandatory fee on single-use bags.
Karen McVeigh reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) reported an 80% reduction in plastic bags on UK beaches since the fee introduction.
- MCS's 2023 survey showed a drop from five plastic bags per 100 meters in 2014 to one in 2023.
- MCS urges further action on single-use items, including speeding up the proposed deposit scheme for bottles and cans.
Key quote:
"It is brilliant to see policies on single-use plastics such as carrier bags working."
— Lizzie Price, Beachwatch Programme Manager
Why this matters:
Reducing plastic pollution protects marine life and ecosystems. Successful policies on plastic bags can inspire further measures to tackle other single-use plastics.
