UK: The effect of supermarket "plastic restriction" is obvious
Plastic bag consumption has fallen by 86% since major supermarkets introduced a compulsory charge for plastic bags in 2015, according to government figures released on Tuesday. Shoppers at the seven major supermarkets used 19 plastic bags per person in 2017, down from 140 in 2015. The environment secretary said the figures showed how people could improve the environment by making simple changes to their daily habits. The government has introduced a 5p charge for plastic bags in shops. The government is also planning a total ban on single-use plastic products like straws, drink stirrers and cotton swabs with plastic sticks in England.