From 1 July you pay extra for disposable cups and containers with plastic | News item

News item | 01-06-2023 | 9:00 am

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 litter, the government is implementing 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 1 July you pay extra for disposable cups and containers with plastic if you pick up food or drinks or have them delivered. This applies, for example, if you get a coffee at the station, take fries with you at the snack bar, buy a meal salad in the supermarket or a plastic sandwich at the gas station.
• The costs you incur for disposable cups and containers with plastic will soon be stated separately on the receipt. This way you immediately see how much extra you pay.
• Entrepreneurs are obliged to offer a reusable option from 1 July. There are two ways.
  • Or entrepreneurs offer reusable cups and trays for which you have to pay a deposit and which you can return.
  • Or entrepreneurs fill the cup or tray you brought.
• The entrepreneur chooses which form is offered. They can also choose to offer both forms.
• From 1 January 2024, reusable crockery will be the starting point for on-site consumption. Think of the washable mug at the office and reusable or high-quality recyclable cups and trays at festivals and events.

Reuse for a cleaner world

The new measures stem from the European Single Use Plastics (SUP) directive and aim to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on the environment and to reuse and recycle more plastic.

State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management: “We want to leave the world tidy for our children and grandchildren. These new rules will help with that, because it will save an enormous amount of waste and litter. We use way too much disposable packaging. And that can really be different. That is why we are committed to reuse. Everyone can contribute by bringing their own cup or container or by choosing a cup or container with a deposit on it and returning it. Let’s work together to ensure that reuse becomes the standard.”

Entrepreneurs change with it

As of July 1, entrepreneurs are no longer allowed to offer free disposable cups and trays with plastic. This also applies to the cups in which you get coffee for the road, for example. That cup looks like paper, but contains a plastic layer to make the cup watertight. 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 money they charge for disposable cups and trays that contain plastic. The government gives as guidelines:

• € 0.25 for a cup
• € 0.50 for a meal (possibly with several trays)
• € 0.05 for pre-packaged small portions of vegetables, fruit, nuts and portion packs for, for example, toppings and sauce

The measures stem from the European Single Use Plastics Directive, which aims to reduce the impact of products containing plastic on the environment.

Reduce waste mountain

Do you want to know more about these measures and other measures that the government is taking to reduce the waste mountain? Check out rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/afval/rules-voor-wegwerpplastic. Information about what the new regulations will mean for entrepreneurs as of 1 July 2023 can be found at www.minderwegwerpplastic.nl.

More information

Judith Jansen, spokesperson circular economy and environment
06-21879983 or [email protected]