• Plastic bags on UK beaches have decreased by 80% since the charge introduction.
• The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) calls for further action on single-use plastics.
• Increased efforts are needed to address the growing issue of drinks-related litter.

The number of plastic bags found on UK beaches has plummeted by 80% over the past decade, following the introduction of a mandatory fee for single-use carrier bags. According to the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) annual litter survey, volunteers discovered an average of one plastic bag every 100 meters of coastline surveyed last year, compared to five per 100 meters in 2014.

Lizzie Price, Beachwatch program manager at MCS, commented: “It is brilliant to see policies on single-use plastics such as carrier bags working.”

The MCS attributes this significant decline to the mandatory charges introduced by the UK’s devolved governments. These charges, which range from 5p to 25p, have been progressively implemented in Wales (2011), Northern Ireland (2013), Scotland (2014), and England (2015). The charge in England and Scotland was increased from 5p to 10p in 2021, while Northern Ireland’s fee stands at 25p. Wales plans to ban these bags entirely by 2026.

“We must move quicker towards a society that repairs, reuses, and recycles.”

She called on the devolved UK governments to expedite policies targeting other single-use items and to advance the proposed deposit scheme for plastic bottles, cans, and glass. Despite efforts for a unified approach, this scheme has been delayed until 2027.

The MCS’s 2023 beach litter report revealed that 97% of beaches had drinks-related litter, such as bottles and cans, with a total of 4,684 plastic bags found. Despite a significant reduction in plastic bags, overall plastic litter increased by 1.2% across the UK, with an average of 167 items per 100 meters.

The report, based on 1,199 surveys, highlighted the five most common items found: plastic pieces measuring 2.5-30cm, packets (e.g., crisp and sandwich wrappers), caps and lids, plastic string and cord, and plastic bottles and containers.

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More than 100 litter-picks are planned for this year’s Great British Beach Clean, occurring from September 20-29, covering shores from Bude in Cornwall to Aikerness in the Orkney Islands.

“Moving towards a circular economy where we repair, reuse, and recycle is essential for the future of our oceans and beaches.”