Netherlands considers scrapping single-use plastic packaging charge

The Dutch government is considering removing the surcharge on disposable plastic packaging, following concerns raised by a majority in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament, according to reports from the NL Times.

The levy, introduced in 2023 as part of European measures to reduce plastic waste, allows businesses to set their own fees for single-use packaging. However, from next year, a mandatory charge of 25 cents per item, including takeaway coffee cups and disposable food containers, is set to be enforced.

A broad coalition of political parties, spanning both left and right, has expressed opposition to the fixed surcharge, arguing that it places an excessive financial burden on consumers. As a result, there is growing parliamentary support for scrapping the charge entirely.