Charging for plastic shopping bags can actually lead to cleaner beaches, study shows
Study reveals important benefit of charging for plastic bags
- A new study published in the journal Science indicates that local plastic bag bans and fees are effective in reducing plastic bag litter along shorelines.
- The research found a 25 to 47 per cent decrease in plastic bag litter during shoreline cleanups, with the most significant impact observed along lakes.
- The study highlights that full bans and fees are more effective than partial bans, which often include exemptions for thicker plastic bags.
- Experts, including Anna Papp from MIT and environmental scientist Dr. Zoie Diana, confirm that these policies reliably lead to a decrease in plastic bag litter.
- Plastic bag regulations are gaining global popularity, with over 100 countries implementing them and 175 countries discussing a global plastics treaty, while in the US, 11 states and over 200 counties have adopted such measures.