Sewage sludge fertiliser leaves farmland with microplastics for decades
A 25-year field study found sludge application raised soil microplastic levels by up to 1,445%, persisting for at least 22 years.
United Kingdom
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England’s plastic bag charge cut single-use bag sales at the main supermarkets by 98%
The main 7 supermarkets sold 126 million single-use bags in 2025/26, down from 7.6 billion in 2014, before the charge. All 94 reporting retailers…
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UK deposit return scheme launches October 2027; packaging fees already live
The UK now charges producers £423 per tonne of plastic packaging and will add a 20p deposit on drinks containers from 1 October 2027.
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single-use bags sold in England in 2025/26
Down 81% since 2016 to 2017, the first full year of the charge, and 9% on last year. The main 7 supermarkets alone sold…