The tax charges 0.50 euros for items such as coffee cups and food containers. Tübingen has a population of about 90,000 and receives up to two million visitors annually, and the city previously spent close to 1 million euros per year on waste management.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Jas Min;

The measure applies to all single-use packaging, regardless of material, and municipal cleaning services report less discarded packaging in public spaces. About three-quarters of eateries in the city have reduced their use of single-use packaging. Germany also requires food vendors to offer reusable packaging options under a national law introduced in 2023.