According to information on the Deutsche Recycling company website, some EU countries have already introduced alternative financing models for the plastic tax. For example, manufacturers and importers of plastic in Spain have had to pay a fee of 45 cents per kilogram of plastic since the beginning of 2023, while in Italy a tax on single-use packaging will apply from 2024. These countries could serve as examples for Germany. Nevertheless, the federal government intends to save the full sum of 1.4 billion euros, which suggests that the full 80 cents per kilogram of plastic could be charged.

Since January 1, 2022, companies in the packaging industry in Portugal have been required to pay taxes to the state on single-use plastic packaging. From September 1, 2023, an additional tax requirement for aluminum packaging will be introduced. Interestingly, manufacturers and importers have to pay the plastic tax in Portugal, but the amounts are passed on to consumers in the form of higher purchase prices.

Environmental pollution caused by plastic is now being combated more actively in Germany

The reusable offer requirement came into force on January 1, 2023. Since then, restaurants, snack bars, delivery services and even fresh food counters in supermarkets with take-away offers have had to offer their customers reusable take-away containers. This law is intended to reduce the huge amounts of plastic waste caused by single-use packaging. In Germany alone, according to the Berlin Consumer Center, 770 tons of packaging waste is generated every day from take-away packaging for food and drinks. Already half of the waste in the oceans consists of food packaging, plastic bags and foil.

On June 27th, the Federal Environment Ministry published the new key points paper on the Packaging Act. The law should contain measures such as strengthening reusable alternatives in retail, improved return options for reusable bottles and expanding the reusable range for to-go packaging.

There is currently no plastic tax in Germany, but new regulations for single-use plastic manufacturers and those bringing them into circulation will come into force from January 1, 2024 . These companies are obliged to pay a levy into the single-use plastic fund, which is managed by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and processed via the DIVID platform.

The costs of disposing of single-use plastic waste in streets and parks are covered by the single-use plastic fund. Manufacturers pay a fee, the amount of which varies depending on the type and quantity of products. This tax is passed on to cities, municipalities and public organizations.

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What will change for us in 2024?

If the plastic manufacturers actually pass on the tax on a one-to-one basis, the financial burden depends on how much plastic you purchase. According to the "Plastic Atlas" from 2019, the average plastic waste production per capita per year in Germany is 38 kilograms, which is above the EU average of 24 kilograms per year. Accordingly, an average German would incur 30.4 euros in plastic tax annually.

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