Drop in plastic bags littering British seas linked to introduction of 5p charge

clock • 2 min read

Scientists find an estimated 30 per cent drop in plastic bags on the seabed in the same timeframe as charges were introduced in European countries

A big drop in plastic bags found in the seas around Britain has been credited to the introduction of charges for plastic bags across Europe. Ireland and Denmark were the first two countries to bring...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Waste

Co-op and Deliveroo team up to deliver new food waste initiative

Co-op and Deliveroo team up to deliver new food waste initiative

Co-op launches £3 produce bags on Deliveroo that offer up to £36 worth of reduced-to-clear fruit and vegetables

clock 12 June 2026 • 2 min read
Waste firms urge government to introduce deposit return scheme for vapes

Waste firms urge government to introduce deposit return scheme for vapes

Biffa and the Environmental Services Association (ESA) call for a deposit to be put on vapes to encourage people to dispose of them safely through approved recycling streams

clock 03 June 2026 • 4 min read
Government urged to tackle disposable vape ban 'loophole'

Government urged to tackle disposable vape ban 'loophole'

A year on from introduction of disposable vape fan, new figures show number of fires caused by vape batteries is continuing to rise

James Murray
clock 01 June 2026 • 5 min read