New research indicates there’s at least one strategy that works to curb an especially problematic and unnecessary form of plastic trash. Local and state level bans on plastic bags successfully mitigate plastic bag litter along beaches, lakes, and rivers, according to a study published June 19 in the journal Science.

Researchers analyzed data from thousands of shoreline cleanups across the U.S. and found that areas that implemented policies that banned single-use plastic bags or charged a fee for them had a reduced proportion of these items in their beach trash compared with sites without such policies.

Researchers say plastic bags are among the biggest culprits of plastic pollution in the ocean and along coastlines. The post Shoreline trash slashed by half thanks to plastic bag bans appeared first on Talker.