Study reveals important benefit of charging for plastic bags

WorldEnvironment
20 Jun 2025 • 6:12 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • 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