UK authorities plan to double the fees for plastic bags to 10 pence (about 8 rubles) as part of measures to protect the environment, according to Vedomosti, citing Bloomberg.

The tax on plastic bags, the UK introduced in 2015. Now he is 5 pence (about 4 rubles.). As the agency notes, before the tax was introduced, the average Briton used 140 bags a year, after – 19. “We have withdrawn from circulation more than 15 billion plastic bags, but we want to do more,” Bloomberg quoted British Environment Minister Michael Gove as saying.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is actively struggling with plastic products, notes Bloomberg. Her government had already banned the tiny plastic microspheres used in cosmetics and personal care products (for example, toothpaste), proposed a deposit refund program for plastic bottles and explored the possibility of imposing restrictions on disposable plastic coffee cups.

Plastic waste has been actively criticized by environmentalists because of ocean pollution and damage to birds and marine mammals. Because of this, many companies exclude the use of plastic products. For example, McDonald’s plans to switch to packaging from fully recyclable materials by 2025, and Starbucks will refuse plastic tubes.