Number of plastic bags found on UK beaches down 80% since charge introduced
Number of plastic bags found on UK beaches down 80% since charge introduced
Hailing the success of carrier bag laws, the Marine Conservation Society urges nations to push forward with plans for other single-use items
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Interesting. I would have imagined, considering the small price, people would just pay the minimal cost to get plastic - bags but it seems people actually began to avoid them which is great news.
It was 5 cents a bag at the grocery store back in 2016 where I lived, and practically everyone would just bring their own bags to avoid it.
Yes. I find it surprising.
It’s also good that there is analysis of the effect of the charge.
I would like to know if the UK tax on sugared drinks has any beneficial effect. I believe that sales (and manufacture) have reduced but that’s pretty irrelevant—eg, has it improved obesity or dental health?
Daily sugar intake fell by 11g - equivalent to two and a half teaspoons - in adults in the year after the introduction of the UK’s ‘sugar tax’ in 2018, finds a new study involving a UCL researcher.
That’s an answer to a different question. Mine was: are there any improvements in public health?
Assuming that what I've read (extremely quick search) is true, too much sugar can cause diabetes and heart disease. So reducing the amount consumed will likely improve public health. It's not a big jump from one to the other.
Also, in the article I first linked there's this quote: "These seemingly average changes can lead to valuable changes in health at the population level" by Dr Oliver Mytton (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health).
So yes, there's been a positive impact.
They just want some justification and reenforcement. If it saves anything, that is all they need. I was the crazy own bags dude before the charge, and now everyone is bringing their own bags too.