The Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk field monitoring team collected litter from beaches while taking water samples earlier this year.
The rubbish was then used to decorate a Christmas tree as part of a competition within the Environment Agency’s National Monitoring Service.
Adrian Wood, Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk field monitoring team leader, said: “We did this to raise awareness of the plastic problem we have on beaches.
“It shows how doing one activity to regulate the environment can also lead to another that enhances the environment.
“It takes no time to pick up litter while sampling and enhances the beauty of our beaches and countryside.
“Christmas can be very wasteful and doing something like this, using litter and used plastic, shows how you can be creative, have some fun and do something to improve our environment.”
The team recently carried out a voluntary beach clean at Dunwich and the litter they collected, included cartons and balloons, added to their Christmas tree decorations.
The competition was to determine which team decorated their tree the most creatively. Unfortunately the Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk team missed out on first place.