The German Association of Cities and Municipalities has welcomed the Constitutional Court’s confirmation of the packaging tax in Tübingen. “Ultimately, the decision will sensibly strengthen the municipalities’ scope for action in the fight against the pollution of inner cities and the environment through single-use packaging” said André Berghegger, the association’s executive director, to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (Thursday edition).
“Multipart solutions must be strengthened, and the awareness of end consumers for avoiding packaging waste must be sharpened” Berghegger added. He argued that the existing obligation to offer reusable packaging for take-away food and drinks, which are currently offered in single-use plastic packaging and single-use beverage cups, should be extended to all types of packaging materials, including pizza boxes or aluminum trays.
“The legislator is being urged to expand the legal regulations to all materials. Multi-part alternatives should apply to both single-use plastics and other materials” Berghegger said.