Many single-use plastic products will be banned in the EU from this Saturday, July 3rd.
Gastronomy and the food trade are increasingly relying on reusable deposit systems.
The district of Erding also wants to support this and introduce a system that is as uniform as possible.
Erding - The coffee to take away, lunch from the hot counter at the butcher's: Even before the Corona, food and drinks "to go" were popular, during the pandemic sales increased again - and with it the flood of packaging waste. The EU wants to put a stop to this. As of this Saturday, many single-use plastic products may no longer be produced and sold. Gastronomy and the food trade are increasingly relying on reusable deposit systems. The district also wants to support this and introduce a system that is as uniform as possible.
When you go to the roundabout in Dorfen, you are well prepared for the plastic ban.
Georg Hagl took over the grocery three years ago as store manager and has been the tenant since the beginning of the year.
Whether schnitzel with french fries or stuffed peppers - he has lunch in containers made of compostable materials or reusable bowls with lids for a five-euro deposit.
The coffee to take away is also available in reusable cups.
Kramerei am Kreisel: "In the whole store we do without plastic as far as possible"
The 41-year-old is relying on the Rebowl / Recup system and is therefore already equipped if caterers, delivery services and restaurants are to be obliged to offer reusable as an alternative to disposable containers for take-away food and drinks from 2023.
“We started with both on December 1, 2020, at Rebowl as the first in Dorfen,” says Hagl and sums it up: “That is very well received by customers, they are enthusiastic.” The vessels can be returned to any partner, many Customers would also use the bowls at home, for example to warm them up in the microwave.
The reusable deposit system fits in very well with the shop floor concept, says Hagl: “In the whole store we do without plastic as far as possible.” The cutlery or the alternative to the reusable bowl are made of compostable material, fruit and vegetables are almost made Only offered openly, instead of plastic knot bags there are fruit nets for sale or paper bags - the latter are very popular "because many people use them to dispose of their organic waste immediately".
More and more partners at Recup / Rebowl
The Germany-wide deposit system of Recup GmbH is now attracting more and more circles.
In the past few weeks and months in particular, a number of new partners have been added - also in the Erding district.
The Taufkirchen beer garden, for example, the Herzstück café in Pastetten or the Eurest company, which operates the airport canteens on behalf of the airport subsidiary Allresto.
In order to cope with the amount of waste, the district would like to establish a uniform reusable deposit system.
As reported, a survey was started to get the opinion of the food trade, retail and gastronomy.
Owners of restaurants, butchers, snack bars and the like are asked whether they already use a deposit system or which one would best suit their business.
Around 50 companies have already participated in the survey, reports Claudia Fiebrandt-Kirmeyer, spokeswoman for the district office, on request.
The interim conclusion after around two months: “The companies that have participated so far are all positive towards a reusable system.” The current trend is towards the cross-industry Recup system.
The survey will continue for another two weeks and can be accessed at reusable deposit system-lxxp5n (grafstat.com).
Markthaus Schachtl: Divided menu trays for several side dishes would be ideal
One of those who took part in the survey is Peter Schachtl, owner of the market house of the same name in Erding. He currently has lunch to take away in styrofoam bowls that are sealed. “Lots of customers want it to be packed like that because it is tight and simply clean,” says Schachtl. You can also come to him with your own box - both when shopping for meat and sausage and for lunch.
Schachtl doubts that simply exchanging materials - such as cardboard dishes, palm leaves or sugar cane instead of plastic - is really that much better for the environment.
He is convinced that the future will go in the direction of reusable tableware.
In his market house one is also open to this.
“We'll offer it when it's right for us,” says Schachtl.
The bowls should be tight and still look appetizing even after many washes.
Divided menu trays for several side dishes would also be ideal - the dishes would mix in the large bowls.
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