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Plastic rubbish is an issue: new regulations will come into force from 2022
Photo: Ralph Peters / imago images
The Federal Council has approved an amendment to the law aimed at ensuring less plastic waste and more recycling in Germany.
With the amendment of the Packaging Act, two EU directives will be implemented in German law.
At the same time, the Federal Council sharply criticized the law;
accordingly, the law was only approved in order not to delay the timely implementation of the EU requirements.
The aim of the amendment is to expand the separation of certain packaging waste in order to improve recycling and to avoid so-called littering, i.e. the careless throwing away of plastic waste.
The law shows that from 2022 almost all exemptions from the compulsory deposit for one-way beverage bottles and such cans will no longer apply.
This could increase the price of fruit juices, smoothies, cider or energy drinks in such containers; these drinks were previously exempt from the one-way deposit of 25 cents.
The deposit obligation for milk and milk products will not apply until 2024.
In addition, restaurateurs and retailers will have to offer reusable alternatives instead of the previously common disposable packaging when selling food and beverages for immediate consumption.
The regulation will come into force in 2023.
In January, Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) said after the cabinet decision that customers should be able to choose reusable everywhere.
Reusable boxes and reusable cups for on the go should become the new standard.
The reusable variant must not be smaller or more expensive
According to the Ministry of the Environment, the reusable variant must not be smaller or more expensive than the corresponding disposable packaging - only a deposit may be added. The reusable containers must therefore also be taken back by the respective restaurateur. Small shops with a maximum of five employees and 80 square meters of retail space are exempt from the reusable obligation - however, they must fill their customers with food or drinks in containers they have brought with them if they so wish.
The change in the law also prescribes a mandatory minimum proportion of recyclable plastic for certain packaging. From 2025, a minimum proportion of recycled plastic will be required for the production of PET bottles. The duty to provide information to consumers is also being expanded - for example, about the possibility of free returns. The amendment also extends manufacturer obligations that also affect foreign suppliers in the mail order business.
The Federal Council criticized the law because it was inadequate and partly not enforceable, so it had to be improved as soon as possible.
In general, the Federal Council called on the Federal Government to initiate time-bound projects for the implementation of EU law at an earlier stage in order to ensure that the federal states are fully involved.
The amendment is scheduled to come into force on July 3, 2021.
hba / dpa