From July 1, extra surcharge on disposable cups and plastic containers.

Anyone picking up or having food or drinks delivered starting July 1st will pay extra for disposable cups and containers that are (partially) made of plastic. Under the European ‘Single Use Plastics’ directive, businesses are no longer allowed to offer (partially) plastic disposable products for free from this date; it also becomes mandatory to offer a reusable option starting July 1st. This can be done in two ways: businesses fill a cup or container that you bring yourself, or they offer a cup or container that you can return. From disposable to reusable. That is better for the environment and, as of July 1st, for your wallet too.

Waste mountain

Every day, in the Netherlands alone, we throw away 19 million plastic cups and food packaging that have been used only once. An unnecessary amount of waste that regularly ends up on the streets and in the bushes. To reduce this mountain of waste and curb litter, the government is introducing measures to make reuse the norm. To encourage the use of reusable cups and containers, new rules will soon apply.

What does this mean for you?

• From July 1st, you will pay extra for disposable cups and containers with plastic if you pick up food or drinks or have them delivered. This applies, for example, if you get a coffee at the station, take fries from the snack bar, buy a meal salad at the supermarket, or a sandwich in plastic at the gas station.
• The costs you incur for disposable cups and containers with plastic will soon be listed separately on the receipt. This way, you can see immediately how much extra you are paying.
• As of July 1, entrepreneurs are required to offer a reusable option. There are two ways.
  – Or entrepreneurs offer reusable cups and containers for which you have to pay a deposit and which you can return.
  – Or entrepreneurs fill the cup or container that you brought along.
• The entrepreneur chooses which form to offer. They can also choose to offer both forms.
• From January 1, 2024, reusable tableware will be the standard for on-site consumption. Think of the washable mug at the office and reusable or high-quality recyclable cups and containers at festivals and events.

Reuse for a cleaner world

The new measures stem from the European directive 'Single Use Plastics (SUP)' and aim to reduce the impact of single-use plastic on the environment and to reuse and recycle more plastic. State Secretary Vivianne Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management: “We want to leave the world clean for our children and grandchildren. These new rules will help with that, because it will save an enormous amount of waste and litter. After all, we use far too much disposable packaging. And that really can be done differently. That is why we are focusing on reuse. Everyone can do their part by bringing their own cup or container, or by choosing a cup or container with a deposit and returning it. Let’s work together to ensure that reuse becomes the standard.”

As a customer, you will therefore soon pay an extra amount on top of the price of your food or drink. Entrepreneurs are allowed to decide for themselves how much they charge for disposable cups and containers containing plastic. The government provides the following guidelines:

• €0.25 for a cup
• €0.50 for a meal (possibly with multiple containers)
• €0.05 for pre-packaged small portions of vegetables, fruit, nuts and portion packs for, for example, toppings and sauces