Daily Garbage Consumption: Cut 170,000 Cups in Hamburg
Hitting the Java shops on your commute? Many folks find it a pleasant pit stop. Yet, all too often, the empty coffees they leave behind don't make it to the trash. Hamburg sells a staggering 170,000 disposable cups daily, with a chunk of these ending up as litter. And here's the kicker: it's time for a change. As we gear up for Hamburg's "Sustainability Week," the environmental group BUND is pushing for a packaging tax.
Got a week to spare? Mark your calendar, because Hamburg's "Sustainability Week" runs from June 1st to 6th. The lineup's chock-full of events, from exhibitions and workshops to readings, catering to every interest. Right alongside these events, the BUND is advocating for Hamburg to adopt a packaging tax.
Tübingen took the first step back in 2022, and reports show positive results. Public spaces are cleaner, and an impressive number of businesses have embraced reusable dishware. The reusable rate is now a whopping 50 percent – a far cry from the German average of 95 percent single-use and just 5 percent reusable packaging in eateries.
Support for Caterers with Packaging Tax Revenues
No trash? More green? Sounds perfect! But what about the caterers? Enter the packaging tax. According to Jürgen Mumme, project manager at BUND Hamburg, the tax would not only save resources, but it would also provide financial assistance to caterers during their transition to reusable systems.
"By imposing a tax on single-use packaging, we'd be ensuring a fair cost allocation, solely the producers' responsibility," Mumme explains further. Let's face it: right now, the general public shoulders the burden of waste disposal.
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The Federal Constitutional Court has already endorsed a packaging tax. In the near future, The Left plans to submit a motion for this tax to the Hamburg Citizens' Assembly on June 4th. Additionally, the BUND has launched a petition to make the packaging tax a reality. Time to put an end to the mountain of coffee cup litter. (mm)
During Hamburg's "Sustainability Week" from June 1st to 6th, the environmental group BUND is not only organizing various events but also advocating for the adoption of a packaging tax. This tax, as explained by Jürgen Mumme, project manager at BUND Hamburg, would not only save resources but also provide financial assistance to caterers during their transition to reusable systems. The packaging tax is aimed at ensuring fair cost allocation, with the producers solely responsible, as opposed to the general public shouldering the burden of waste disposal.
