Plastic litter including bags and bottles is at its worst level ever recorded on Britain's beaches, according to a new survey released.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said the amount of plastic found on the coastline had increased by 126% since its first annual Beachwatch survey in 1994.
Carrier bags, drinks bottles and even plastic-based cigarette butts contributed to the "tide" of plastic waste which made up more than half of the litter blighting our beaches, the MCS Beachwatch study found.
The conservation organisation said the plastics could remain in the marine environment for hundreds of years and prove fatal for wildlife including seabirds, turtles and whales.
More than 170 marine species have been recorded mistaking litter for food, and as a result starving, being poisoned or suffering fatal stomach blockages.
Emma Snowden, MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: "The results are truly shocking, in the last 10 years plastic bottles have increased by 67%, plastic bags by 54% and cigarette butts by 44%.
"The plastic litter problem needs to be tackled at all levels, from grassroots through to government, while industry and retail sectors must acknowledge the need to reduce plastic bag use and packaging."
Litter policy officer Sue Kinsey said sewage-related items fell slightly overall, but a large number were still being thrown down the toilet.
She said the public didn't realise sewage works were not equipped to deal with that type of debris, and urged people to stop treating their toilet as a "wet bin" to cut out that source of litter.
Responding to the survey, a spokeswoman from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "There is no excuse whatsoever for dropping litter anywhere other than in a bin and it is never acceptable to use the toilet as a bin."