German Environmental Group Urges Additional Tax on Single-Use Plastic Bottles and Take-Away Packaging

The German environmental aid group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has criticized the new One-way Plastic Fund law, which mandates that manufacturers of single-use cups and plastic bags pay for municipalities to clear their products off the streets. The DUH claims that the amount that manufacturers must pay is too low to create incentives for waste reduction and promote the reuse of materials. The group has called on the Environment Minister to impose an additional tax of at least 20 cents on single-use take-away packaging and plastic bottles to make financial incentives for consumers stronger to switch to more environmentally friendly alternatives. The DUH also criticizes the lack of obligation to evaluate the financing of environmental education and awareness-raising measures and manufacturers' delayed payment into the fund.

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