Plastic Bag Litter on UK Beaches Drops 80% After Decade of Charges

Marine Conservation Society urges new government to implement deposit return scheme for bottles to tackle rising plastic pollution.

Plastic bags on UK beaches have significantly decreased due to mandatory charges introduced over the past decade.
The Marine Conservation Society recorded a 14% increase in plastic bottles found on beaches from 2022 to 2023.
The proposed deposit return scheme for bottles has been delayed until at least 2027, despite its success in other countries.
Volunteers continue to play a crucial role in beach clean-ups, collecting vital data to push for policy changes.
The UK is part of a coalition advocating for reduced plastic production as part of a Global Plastics Treaty.