Environment
Plastic levy: Consumers will not notice the costs
“I think we all want to get rid of this packaging waste,” says Steffi Lemke. photo
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
In order to get money into the budget, companies will in future have to pay a plastic levy to the EU itself. Are plastic products now becoming more expensive for consumers?
According to the responsible minister, Steffi Lemke, consumers do not have to fear any noticeable additional costs due to the traffic light coalition’s planned plastic levy.
“We have proposed a plastic tax that consumers will not notice for individual products,” said the Green politician in an interview with the German Press Agency. “The sums there are too small for that; it is spread out far too widely.” At the same time it is good for them Environment, that there is now an incentive to put less disposable packaging into circulation. The Consumer Minister said she hopes that this effect will actually occur.
“Get out of this packaging waste”
Lemke criticized the amount of waste that occurs, especially during the holidays. “I think we all want to get rid of this packaging waste,” she said. Some people would probably moan about all the rubbish, especially at Christmas time when the presents are being opened. “We make it, we produce it, the consumers, and ultimately the industry that offers us these products,” said the minister.
According to the traffic light government’s plans, manufacturers should in future pay a plastic levy to the EU, which has so far been borne by the federal government. This should bring in revenue of 1.4 billion euros. Manufacturers could pass on the additional costs to end consumers.
The General Association of the Plastics Processing Industry announced exactly that. “There will be no other way than for it to be borne entirely by the consumers,” said Managing Director Oliver Möllenstädt to the dpa. The amount of 1.4 billion euros cannot be financed any other way.