In the future, plastic producers will have to pay a special levy for products such as beverage cups, plastic bags or even tobacco filters and balloons. On Friday, the Bundesrat approved a corresponding law that had already been passed by the Bundestag. According to this, the manufacturers of certain products made of single-use plastic must pay into a state fund in order to relieve cities and communities financially when cleaning streets and parks.

Annually, 400 million euros should come together, which flow into the coffers of the municipalities. The background is an EU directive against pollution from single-use plastic from 2019, which is now being implemented into German law.