GERMANY IMPLEMENTS EU-WIDE BAN ON PLASTIC ARTICLES

Single-use plastic products are to start disappearing from the market in EU member states in line with an EU directive that came into force over the weekend, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

The ban, approved in 2019, affects disposable products such as single-use cutlery and plates, drinking straws, stirrers, cotton buds, and balloon wands made of plastic.

Takeaway containers and beverage cups made of polystyrene are also no longer allowed to be put on the market. Traders are now obliged to use reusable alternatives made of glass or metal. However, disposable products that are still in stock may continue to be sold.

The German Trade Association assumes that there are "still large quantities" that retailers would have to sell, but it does not have more precise figures.

Disposable plates, cups, and cutlery made of organic materials or biodegradable plastics will also be banned. The same applies to disposable tableware made of cardboard, only a small part of which consists of plastic or is coated with plastic.

The national implementation of the EU directive banning plastic tableware is the responsibility of the individual member states. According to a spokeswoman for the European Parliament, more reliable data on the status of implementation will only be available after the deadline of Saturday.

In Germany, in addition to the ban on the above-mentioned items, special labeling will also come into effect for disposable products for which there are no alternative offers yet. These include hygiene products, takeaway cups made of and with plastic, and cigarettes with plastic filters. The labeling is intended to warn consumers about the environmental damage caused by plastic and to inform them about proper disposal.

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