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Plastic Bag Bans Slash Shoreline Litter by Up to 47%

6/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Plastic bag bans and fees across the U.S. have led to a remarkable 25% to 47% drop in shoreline litter, according to recent research. Analyzing over 600 policies from 2007 to 2023, the study found that state-level initiatives outperformed local efforts. However, the battle against plastic bag litter is far from over, as overall pollution continues to climb.

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Story summary

Plastic bag bans and fees across the U.S. have led to a remarkable 25% to 47% drop in shoreline litter, according to recent research. Analyzing over 600 policies from 2007 to 2023, the study found that state-level initiatives outperformed local efforts. However, the battle against plastic bag litter is far from over, as overall pollution continues to climb.