Packaging tax in the district of Göppingen: Citizens and restaurateurs in a dispute!

Packaging tax in the district of Göppingen: Citizens and restaurateurs in a dispute!

Göppingen, Deutschland - The discussion about packaging taxes in the Stuttgart region is picking up more and more speed. With the recent judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court, which has confirmed the legality of the packaging tax in Tübingen, the pressure on other cities to issue similar regulations is greater. [SWR] reports that Tübingen has been lifting a tax on disposable dishes since January 1, 2022 in order to reduce the amount of garbage caused by disposable packaging.

In the district of Göppingen, the discussion about the introduction of such a packaging tax on dishes to take away is currently underway. One thing is clear: there is a lot to discuss on this front. Mayor Alexander Maier (Greens) brought the various views of the restaurants to the table after a round table with representatives of the city and the catering trade took place on Monday. Many restaurateurs said critically against the tax, which appears necessary due to the increased waste quantities.

The trends in the cities

A look at the neighborhood shows that there are similar considerations in Ludwigsburg and Kirchheim under Teck. Ludwigsburg is planning a discussion in the local council for September, where it could be decided to introduce a packaging tax. This could prove to be crucial to contribute to waste management in the city. Talks with restaurateurs are also on the way in Kirchheim to take their opinions into account [SWR].

Already in Freiburg you use the Tübingen model: the municipal council has decided on a packaging tax on one-way dishes and wants to establish a reusable system in the near future. This confirms the tendency that more and more cities in Baden-Württemberg are considering this type of tax in order to reduce disposal costs and act more sustainably.

diversity of opinions

The topic not only creates great opinions in the catering trade. The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) vehemently rejects the packaging tax and sees it as a bureaucratic burden. Rather, a uniform VAT of 7% for catering operations is required to bring the amount of waste to a more responsible measure. The debate reflects the different perspectives - some see the packaging tax a way to act more sustainably, while others fear the burden for the restaurateurs.

For many cities, packaging tax remains a hot topic. Whether they are based on the pioneer Tübingen, which only takes one million euros annually through this regulation, will be shown in the next few months. The test balloons in communities such as Göppingen, Ludwigsburg and Kirchheim stand for a change that may have far -reaching effects on waste management in the region. Citizens can look forward to lively debates that will show where the journey is going.