The new German levy on single-use plastics (SUP) is a done deal, so now it’s time for implementation: the country’s Federal Environment Agency (UBA, Dessau; www.uba.de) is currently creating a digital platform called DIVID where both those who bring such products to market and those receiving payment from the levy fund will be required to register starting on 1 January 2024.

As part of extended producer responsibility (EPR), the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) stipulates that, as of 2025, manufacturers must pay a special fee into a fund depending on the quantity of respective products placed on the market such as beverage cups, plastic bags, food packaging, tobacco filters, and balloons.

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From 2025 onwards, the UBA is tasked with determining the amount of the levy and the level of payments to cities and municipalities. Money from the fund will be used to pay for cleaning public areas such as roads and parks.

The UBA is supposed to be supported by a commission for SUPs. According to the German law, this body is to be composed of representatives of the business community, parties entitled to compensation, and associations for waste management and environmental and consumer concerns.