Try GOLD - Free
Plastic bag litter on beaches falls 80% since fees imposed
The Guardian
|July 29, 2024
The number of plastic bags washed up on UK beaches has fallen by 80% over a decade since a mandatory checkout fee was imposed on single-use carrier bags.
According to the annual litter survey carried out by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), volunteers found an average of one plastic bag for every 100 metres of coastline surveyed last year, compared to an average of five carrier bags every 100 metres in 2014.
The charity, which has monitored beach litter for the past three decades,said the drop was undoubtedly due to the introduction of mandatory charges, which can range from 5p to 25p.
This story is from the July 29, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
British Airways to offer all passengers fast wifi after Starlink deal
Passengers on British Airways' flights will be able to stream videos and access fast wifi on board, after the airline's parent company signed a deal with Elon Musk's satellite company.
1 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Bulldozing the past
The Mumbai slum dwellers who fear extinction in a city of luxury high-rises
4 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Lawrence joins Aniston in questioning use of intimacy coordinators
Jennifer Lawrence has become the latest star to express scepticism over the necessity of intimacy coordinators, saying she declined their services while working on new film Die My Love, because she felt “safe” with her costar.
2 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
'Warm, funny and wise': tributes as Shirley Valentine star Pauline Collins dies at 85
The Shirley Valentine actor Pauline Collins has died aged 85, her family said yesterday.
3 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Culture of Met police means racial harm 'inevitable' - review
The \"racial harm\" the Metropolitan police inflicts on black people is \"institutionally defended\", with its leadership and culture protecting the force from real change, an internal review has found.
3 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Qatar-linked intelligence operation targeted ICC prosecutor's accuser
Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
4 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
NHS trust takes over private hospital that failed to attract enough paying patients
An NHS trust is taking over a fully equipped, state-of-the-art hospital from a leading private health group that failed to attract enough paying patients to use it.
2 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Interest rates held at 4% as Bank paves way for cut in December
The Bank of England has opened the door to a December interest rate cut after signalling inflation had peaked as it kept borrowing costs unchanged before Rachel Reeves's make-orbreak budget.
4 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
US House calls for Andrew to answer questions over Epstein
A US congressional panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein has written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly the Duke of York, to ask that he submit to questioning as part of its investigation into Epstein's criminal operations.
2 mins
November 07, 2025
The Guardian
Islamists are outnumbered by far right in Prevent referrals
More suspected far-right extremists were referred to the government’s anti-terrorism programme Prevent last year than those suspected of Islamist extremism, figures show.
1 min
November 07, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size