Join/Donate

2026 Plastic Pollution Policy Wins for UK Waters (so far)

It can feel like we spend half our lives cleaning beaches and the other half shouting about it (I know I do) with no end to the pollution in sight. But this year has actually delivered some genuinely tidy policy wins in the fight against plastic pollution across the UK – and we’re here to surf the positive wave. 

 So, let’s unpack what’s popped up on the policy horizon. 

1. Welsh Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) Gets the Go-Ahead

Wales has officially passed Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) legislation that includes glass bottles alongside aluminium, steel and plastic. This news comes as a result of the UK Government accepting Wales’s exemption to diverge from the rest of the UK’s DRS policy (which means it can be more ambitious, yay). This is now officially the first passed DRS system in the UK – go Wales!  

So why include glass? Not only is it harmful to wildlife in the marine environment, but glass is infinitely recyclable and doesn’t down-cycle into lower quality material like many plastics do. So, by including glass, Wales is setting the tone for a true circular loop where bottles get refilled and reused far more effectively.  

Although the UK Government did not allow Wales to roll out its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) with reuse included (which, like including glass, they requested an exemption for), a positive outcome is that the UK Government hare now committed to exploring the rollout of reuse systems across the UK. 

DRS schemes have been shown internationally to increase recycling rates above 90% for eligible containers – meaning fewer bottles chocking our waterways (and – hopefully – fewer found on your cleans).  That’s why we’ve been working hard to help the public respond to DRS consultations!

2. Scotland Leads as Plastic Wet Wipes Ban Moves Forward

Last week brought major environmental news in Scotland: the UK Government has now published detailed guidance confirming the long-awaited ban on plastic-containing wet wipes – with sales becoming illegal from 19 May 2027 across England, and equivalent timelines applying in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For Scotland, where marine protection and litter reduction are high on the agenda, this is a significant step forward. 

Why this matters so much:  

  • Wet wipes are a top source of microplastic pollution in sewage systems and coastal litter – including along Scotland’s shores. 
  • They don’t biodegrade; instead, they fragment into tiny plastic fibres that persist in rivers and marine food webs. Sewer systems spend millions every year clearing wipe-related fatbergs, putting pressure on public infrastructure and water bills.  
  • For Scotland – with its vast coastline, iconic marine environments, and strong public backing for environmental action, this move signals real progress in tackling one of the most preventable sources of plastic pollution.

3. Forever Chemicals May not be Around Forever…

Yes, this month the UK government published its first ever strategy to tackle PFAS (forever chemicals), a class of stubborn synthetic substances found in everything from food packaging to waterproof clothes.  

Why it matters: 

  • PFAS are ubiquitous in plastics — including those that slip into rivers and estuaries. 
  • They persist for centuries, bioaccumulate up the food web, and pose risks to wildlife and people alike. 
  • This new plan kicks off monitoring, mapping, and a pathway toward reducing environmental exposure. 

This is evidence-driven action that recognises that tackling plastic pollution isn’t just about litter – it’s about banning chemicals that hang around long enough to stare back at future generations. 

4. Behind-the-Scenes Win: Refined Packaging Responsibilities

Recent changes to the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations mean producers now have incentives to enhance closed-loop recycling for food-grade plastics.  

In plain English… companies that collect and recycle food-grade plastic back into food packaging can offset their fees. That’s a financial carrot pushing producers toward reuse and repair, not toss-and-forget. Good for the circular economy, good for cutting plastic leakage. 

An even stronger step forward would be to reward businesses for reducing or eliminating plastic at the design stage altogether. By incentivising material-light packaging, refill systems, and alternative formats, policymakers could shift the focus from managing waste to preventing it – tackling the problem at its source rather than improving the afterlife of single-use materials. You can read more about this here.

5. The High Seas Treaty Marks a Turning Point for Plastic Pollution

When the UK Parliament at Westminster formally backed the UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), it signalled more than symbolic support for ocean conservation – it marked a concrete step toward stronger global action on plastic pollution.

Last month, by ratifying the treaty, the UK committed to helping establish marine protected areas in international waters and to strengthening environmental impact assessments for activities like shipping and offshore development.

For a maritime nation with deep economic, environmental, and cultural ties to the ocean, this move reinforces the UK’s leadership on marine protection, building on initiatives such as the Blue Belt Programme.

Plastic pollution disproportionately affects UK coastlines and marine wildlife, with debris in the North Atlantic and beyond circulating through shared waters. Supporting the High Seas Treaty helps close regulatory gaps in areas beyond national jurisdiction, where much plastic accumulates and governance has historically been weak.

In backing the treaty through Westminster, the UK has not only strengthened global ocean protections but also advanced its domestic environmental commitments – demonstrating that tackling plastic pollution requires coordinated action from Parliament to the planet. 

These are positive steps but there’s lots MORE to do

Relating to the policies outlined above, the UK Government must now; allow full implementation of DRS on the earliest possible timetable, implement strong PFAS limits, more bans on unnecessary single-use plastics…  

And to end plastic pollution overall? The UK Government must: 

  • Set legally binding targets to cut plastic production and consumption.   
  • Implement UK wide world-leading circular economy policies and strategies. This includes passing legally binding reuse targets and implementing Deposit Return Schemes.  
  • Legislate to ban hazardous chemicals of concern across the plastics lifecycle (supply chain) including toxic additives, PFAS, and endocrine disrupting substances that threaten human health and marine life.  
  • Tackle the most polluting, non-essential, single-use items found by communities on our beaches, rivers and in the natural environment and stop the production and use of certain polluting products altogether.    

While there is a long way to go, this month we can smile a little, raise a cuppa (reusable, of course), and remember that ‘small’ policy wins can have huge impacts, creating cleaner beaches, healthier seas, and a UK coastline worth surfing for generations to come.