A new team will make checks on beaches to monitor the amount of plastic washed up on them.
The Environment Agency hopes it will identify the worst-affected stretches of our coastline so it can regulate the problem.
It has invested £750,000 setting up its plastics and sustainability team, which will be based in the south west but cover the whole of the country.
The EA says it will aim to reduce the amount of plastic pollution across land, rivers and the coastline. It also will promote better environmental practices across industry, including a reduction in plastic waste from manufacturing, along with community campaigns to clean up pollution locally.
The EA says it wants to reduce the amount of plastics reaching land, waterways and shorelines.
It also hopes to encourage businesses to adopt better environmental practices and reduce plastic waste.
It also wants to encourage more community action to tackle pollution.
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