The Dutch government is contemplating the removal of its national surcharge on single-use plastic packaging.
This follows observations that the levy, introduced in July 2023, has not significantly reduced plastic waste or encouraged the use of reusable containers.
A majority of the country’s House of Representatives supports the proposal to eliminate the surcharge, which believes it favours businesses more than the environment.
The initial policy required foodservice and retail outlets to charge extra for single-use plastic packaging and containers, with suggested guidelines provided by the domestic Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Despite the freedom for establishments to set their own prices, many supermarkets have opted to charge a nominal fee of €0.01 (1¢) for all packaging types.
The surcharge must be itemised separately on receipts, and businesses are obliged to offer reusable alternatives or permit customers to use their own containers.
A mandatory surcharge of €0.25 per container is scheduled to be enforced from 1 January 2026.
This development occurs in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s decision to reverse the phase-out of single-use plastics in federal government agencies, a move he labelled as “ridiculous”.
Earlier this month, Trump revealed his proposal to lift the ban on plastic straws in US government buildings and on government-owned land.
The ban, implemented by former President Joe Biden, was part of an initiative aimed at reducing single-use plastics within government departments by 2035.
