The decision of the Bundestag has been made: In the future, the catering industry will have to offer customers a reusable option in addition to one-way packaging.
Berlin - For cafes, restaurants and snack bars, the reusable obligation will apply in the future.
The Bundestag decided on the evening of May 6th.
"With more reusable packaging we will effectively curb the flood of packaging, especially in the to-go area," said Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD).
If you order a coffee to take away, you can also opt for a reusable mug in the future.
The video shows other simple steps for a more environmentally conscious everyday life:
The resolution of the Bundestag is to reduce packaging waste and make a contribution to climate protection.
From 2023, restaurateurs will have to implement the new regulation.
However, there is an exception for smaller companies with a maximum of 80 square meters and fewer than five employees.
The Federal Cabinet had already initiated the amendment to the Packaging Act in January.
Bundestag extends deposit obligation: exceptions only for milk products
In their decision on Wednesday, the MPs also extended the mandatory deposit: Some drinks were previously exempt from the mandatory deposit - such as non-carbonated fruit juices.
From next year these exemptions will no longer apply, only milk and milk products can be sold without a deposit until 2024.
But not only the reuse of bottles and cans was an issue, also the material from which they are made: In the future, a minimum proportion of recycled plastic will apply to PET bottles.
A share of 25 percent is planned from January 1, 2025, and 30 percent from 2030.
Reusable obligation under criticism: environmentalists regulation does not go far enough
There are criticism of the new regulation from different sides: The trade association HDE is thinking of the restaurateurs and criticizes their financial burden.
The demand is therefore: longer transition periods.
Environmentalists, on the other hand, criticize the decision as inadequate.
Above all, the exceptions to the reusable obligation are a thorn in the side of climate protectors.
Germans consume 2.8 billion hot drinks annually in disposable cups.
This is the result of a study by the Federal Environment Agency from 2018.
This creates around 28,000 tons of waste every year.
Many of the to-go cups end up in the garbage, some of them next to it.
So praise comes from German city cleaners who fight the effects of single-use packaging day in and day out.
The law sets "important impulses for a more sustainable handling of packaging waste", so the city cleaners.
The removal of waste from public spaces costs around 700 million euros per year.
(dpa / bm)
