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.

IN FULL

Charging for plastic shopping bags can actually lead to cleaner beaches, study shows