News article | 01-06-2023 | 09:00
If you pick up food or drinks or have them delivered from July 1, you pay extra for disposable cups and containers that are (partly) made of plastic. Entrepreneurs are no longer allowed to offer them for free. They are also required to offer a reusable option from July 1. This can be done in two ways: contractors fill the cup or container that you bring yourself or offer a cup or container that you can return. From disposable to reusable. It’s better for the environment and from July 1 also for your wallet.
Every day, in the Netherlands alone, we throw away 19 million plastic cups and food packaging that have only been used once. Unnecessary waste that often ends up on the street and in the bushes. To reduce the mountain of waste and reduce waste, the government is putting in place measures to make reuse the norm.
What does this mean for you?
New rules will soon apply to encourage the use of reusable cups and containers:
- From July 1, you pay extra for disposable cups and plastic containers if you pick up food or drinks or have them delivered. This applies, for example, if you have a coffee at the station, take chips with you to the snack bar, buy a meal salad at the supermarket or a plastic sandwich at the gas station.
- The charges you incur for disposable cups and plastic containers will soon be shown separately on the receipt. This way you immediately see how much more you pay.
- Contractors are required to offer a reusable option from July 1. There are two ways.
- Or entrepreneurs offer reusable cups and trays for which you have to pay a deposit and can return them.
- Or contractors refill the cup or tray you brought.
- The entrepreneur chooses the form offered to him. They can also choose to offer both forms.
- From January 1, 2024, reusable tableware will be the starting point for on-site consumption. Think of the washable cup at the office and the high-quality reusable or recyclable cups and trays at festivals and events.
Reuse for a cleaner world
The new measures stem from the European directive on single-use plastics (SUP) and aim to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on the environment and to reuse and recycle more plastic.
State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen for Infrastructure and Water Management: “We want to leave the world clean for our children and grandchildren. These new rules will contribute to this, as they will save a huge amount of waste and waste. We use far too much disposable packaging. And it really can be different. That’s why we are committed to reuse. Everyone can contribute by bringing their cup or container or by choosing a returnable cup or container and returning it. Let’s work together to make reuse the norm.
Entrepreneurs change with him
Since July 1, entrepreneurs are no longer allowed to offer free disposable cups and trays with plastic. This also applies to cups in which you get coffee for the road, for example. This cup looks like paper, but contains a layer of plastic to make the cup leak proof. The same goes for many paper containers. As a customer, you will soon pay an extra amount for this, on top of the price of your food or drink. Entrepreneurs can decide for themselves how much they charge for disposable cups and trays containing plastic. The government provides as guidelines:
- €0.25 for a cup
- €0.50 for a meal (possibly with several trays)
- €0.05 for small prepackaged portions of vegetables, fruits, nuts and portions for e.g. toppings and sauce
The measures derive from the European directive Single-use plasticswhich aims to reduce the impact of products containing plastic on the environment.
Reduce the mountain of waste
Learn more about these and other measures the government is taking to reduce the mountain of waste. Information on the implications of the new regulations for contractors from 1 July 2023 can be found at lesswegwerpplastic.nl.
More information
Judith Jansen, circular economy and environment spokesperson
06-21879983 from judith.jansen@minienw.nl