New research indicates there’s at least one strategy that works to curb an especially problematic and unnecessary form of plastic trash. Local and state level bans on plastic bags successfully mitigate plastic bag litter along beaches, lakes, and rivers, according to a study published June 19 in the journal Science.

Researchers find that nationwide policies to ban plastic bags may be paying off, with fewer showing up during coastal cleanups.

Taken together, the findings mean that bag bans and fees aren’t a plastic panacea but do matter. “These plastic bag policies are only targeting this one type of item,” Papp says. “They’re helping mitigate the pollution of this one type of item but are nowhere close to a solution on plastic pollution in general.”