Angela Merkel's (CDU) government expands deposit system
Angela Merkel's German government (CDU, SPD, CSU) has approved a new Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz). Deposits on juice and wine packaging will start next year, and for milk in 2024. Germany has had a deposit system (Pfand) on plastic bottles and cans for a very long time, since 2003. However, juices, wine and milk were exempt. The new [...]
Angela Merkel's German government (CDU SPD CSU) has approved a new Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz). A deposit on juice and wine packaging will take effect next year, and for milk in 2024.
Germany has had a deposit system (Pfand) on plastic bottles and cans for a very long time, since 2003. But juices, wine and milk were exempt. The new Packaging Act therefore only looks at the packaging, and not at what drink is inside. Today, the German government is taking the step towards a deposit on absolutely all bottles and cans in Germany.
The government also decided that catering establishments must always offer reusable packaging for takeaway meals, and at the same rate as disposable packaging. A third measure states that the amount of recycled content in plastic bottles must be at least 25 per cent by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030.
Due to the Corona pandemic, outdoor consumption is rising and the mountain of waste in German parks is growing. The law on reusable packaging for takeaway and the expansion of the deposit system are an answer to this, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
With the expansion of its deposit system, Germany joins the series of 8 European member states that introduced or expanded deposit schemes over the past four years. That pace has accelerated since the adoption of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive in 2019. This Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) stipulates that all plastic bottles must contain at least 25% recycled content by 2025. Member states must collect 90% of plastic bottles separately by 2029. This can only be achieved with a deposit system. One member state after another is therefore deciding to introduce or expand deposit schemes.
With the expansion of the deposit scheme, the German government is giving people some positive news in these times. The expansion of the deposit system in an important neighbouring country may be an additional encouragement for the Dutch cabinet to also activate the draft decision on deposit for cans that the cabinet approved on 9 October, this month, based on the latest count by Rijkswaterstaat.
Related articles:
Bundesregierung, Änderungen im Verpackungsgesetz, 20 January 2021
ZDF Heute, Weniger Verpackungsmüll: Das ist vorgesehen, 20 January 2021
NTV, Neues Verpackungsgesetz: Regierung beschließt Ausweitung von Pfand-Pflicht, 20 January 2021
Welt, Verpackungsgesetz: Neue Pfand- und To-go-Regeln für Verbraucher, 20 January 2021
Onvista, Regierung beschließt Ausweitung von Pfand-Pflicht onvista, 20 January 2021
Unternehmen-Heute, Regierung Mehrweg-Pflicht in der Gastronomie und Erweiterung des Einwegpfands beschlossen, 20 January 2021
AfvalOnline, Germany mandates recycled content share, 20 January 2021
Der Spiegel, Kabinett beschließt Pfand für To-Go-Bestellungen, 20 January 2021
The timetable envisaged by the German government for expanding deposit systems, mandating reusable takeaway packaging and minimum recycled content in plastic bottles (Source: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/suche/mehrweg-fuers-essen-to-go-1840830)
Angela Merkel's German government (CDU SPD CSU) has approved a new Packaging Act (Verpackungsgesetz). A deposit on juice and wine packaging will take effect next year, and for milk in 2024.
Germany has had a deposit system (Pfand) on plastic bottles and cans for a very long time, since 2003. But juices, wine and milk were exempt. The new Packaging Act therefore only looks at the packaging, and not at what drink is inside. Today, the German government is taking the step towards a deposit on absolutely all bottles and cans in Germany.
The government also decided that catering establishments must always offer reusable packaging for takeaway meals, and at the same rate as disposable packaging. A third measure states that the amount of recycled content in plastic bottles must be at least 25 per cent by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030.
Due to the Corona pandemic, outdoor consumption is rising and the mountain of waste in German parks is growing. The law on reusable packaging for takeaway and the expansion of the deposit system are an answer to this, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
With the expansion of its deposit system, Germany joins the series of 8 European member states that introduced or expanded deposit schemes over the past four years. That pace has accelerated since the adoption of the European Single-Use Plastics Directive in 2019. This Single Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) stipulates that all plastic bottles must contain at least 25% recycled content by 2025. Member states must collect 90% of plastic bottles separately by 2029. This can only be achieved with a deposit system. One member state after another is therefore deciding to introduce or expand deposit schemes.
With the expansion of the deposit scheme, the German government is giving people some positive news in these times. The expansion of the deposit system in an important neighbouring country may be an additional encouragement for the Dutch cabinet to also activate the draft decision on deposit for cans that the cabinet approved on 9 October, this month, based on the latest count by Rijkswaterstaat.
Related articles:
Bundesregierung, Änderungen im Verpackungsgesetz, 20 January 2021
ZDF Heute, Weniger Verpackungsmüll: Das ist vorgesehen, 20 January 2021
NTV, Neues Verpackungsgesetz: Regierung beschließt Ausweitung von Pfand-Pflicht, 20 January 2021
Welt, Verpackungsgesetz: Neue Pfand- und To-go-Regeln für Verbraucher, 20 January 2021
Onvista, Regierung beschließt Ausweitung von Pfand-Pflicht onvista, 20 January 2021
Unternehmen-Heute, Regierung Mehrweg-Pflicht in der Gastronomie und Erweiterung des Einwegpfands beschlossen, 20 January 2021
AfvalOnline, Germany mandates recycled content share, 20 January 2021
Der Spiegel, Kabinett beschließt Pfand für To-Go-Bestellungen, 20 January 2021
The timetable envisaged by the German government for expanding deposit systems, mandating reusable takeaway packaging and minimum recycled content in plastic bottles (Source: https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/suche/mehrweg-fuers-essen-to-go-1840830)
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