Reusable idea for less disposable waste: Miesbach district wants to motivate gastronomy to get started

Created: 01/14/2022 15:33

By: Dieter Dorby

Functional and visually appealing: Ingo Fürstenhoff, an employee at the Ratskeller in Schliersee, shows a covered bowl from the supplier Rebowl, which the Ratskeller decided on.

Four different systems are being discussed in the district.

© Thomas Plettenberg

As beautiful as the new to-go culture may be, it creates a lot of extra garbage.

The district office and some activists now want to establish entry into the reusable system in the district of Miesbach.

Whether it's fast food, coffee to go or takeaway food - the corona pandemic has given this trend a real tailwind. Many restaurateurs are therefore also relying on single-use packaging to benefit from take-away sales and thus at least partially mitigate the loss of income imposed by lockdown and restrictions. But this development has its downside: huge amounts of additional waste are produced.

A circumstance that has brought a new movement into being: reusable tableware is intended to make to-go business environmentally friendly.

Efforts are also being made in the district to pave the way for reusable gastro systems on a broad front.

Miesbach's second mayor and district councilor Astrid Güldner (Greens) recently banged on in the district council that the catering industry in the district should be persuaded to get involved.

Legal obligation from 2023

With all idealism: This change is not completely voluntary - it is rather perspective. Because in May 2021, the Bundestag decided that restaurants, snack bars and cafés must in future offer their customers a reusable version in addition to disposable packaging when selling on the street. The obligation applies from 2023. Exceptions apply to smaller catering establishments that are a maximum of 80 square meters and have no more than five employees.

Under the leadership of climate protection manager Antonia Rüde-Passul, the district office has now created an information flyer that refers to four common providers - Arcoroc, Relevo, Rebowl/Recup and Vytal. According to Güldner, it makes sense if two systems are ultimately established in the district. Which ones, that should result in discussions. There was an information event in mid-2021 at which the four systems were presented (available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNCsRvcRJP8).

According to Güldner, the working group includes, in addition to Rüde-Passul, Andrea Brenner (Macht Sinn Holzkirchen), Kathleen Ellmeier (Eco Model Region), Angie Hacklinger (Growing differently) and Miesbach's SPD city councilor and deputy chief baker, Florian Perkmann.

Güldner has already had a number of discussions: There are many questions, but the restaurateurs are basically interested in getting started.

"The idea of ​​using reusable packaging has potential," explains Güldner.

The more companies sell in the reusable system, the greater the acceptance and the easier it is to hand it over to a participating company.

Petra Schobel, landlady of the Ratskeller in Schliersee.

© Judith Weber

The Ratskeller in Schliersee, for example, has gained initial experience.

Landlady Petra Schobel reports that they were already on board for the first lockdown in 2020: "We were among the first." The choice fell on Rebowl.

Unlike other providers, there is no app or offline card function here, but a deposit system with up to five euros per crockery unit.

Means: When you return the money, you get it back – also for other participants.

"The customer should have the choice"

The Ratskeller currently offers both: disposable and reusable.

"The customer should have the choice," says Schobel.

The Ratskeller also hoped for more customer loyalty - not without success: Two smaller companies could be won as loyal lunch delivery customers.

This is also a good option for seniors who don't always cook for themselves but want to subscribe to meals at home.

The food is packaged in portions, stays warm and can be heated in the microwave.

And since the Ratskeller also supplies kindergartens in Schliersee, delivery to senior citizens and companies is also not a problem.

"We've even had inquiries from Agatharied and Miesbach," reveals Schobel, "but that's too far for us."

The Ratskeller landlady would recommend colleagues to get started: "The more people take part, the more interesting it becomes." Especially since you save on the cost of disposable packaging.

"Ultimately, it's about sustainability," says Schobel.

"And everyone is called upon to make their own contribution."

ddy