Packaging tax in Marburg: expensive kebab, cheap enjoyment?

Packaging tax in Marburg: expensive kebab, cheap enjoyment?

The city of Marburg plans to introduce a packaging tax that will affect restaurants such as bakeries, pizzerias, kebab shops and fast food shops. The magistrate has already signaled that it can imagine implementing such a tax. However, this decision depends on a judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court, which has declared the regulation in Tübingen as lawful. In Tübingen, for example, companies pay 50 cents for disposable packaging and 20 cents for one -way cutlery.

This tax generates Tübingen around 800,000 euros annually. This aspect raises questions of what the handling of the tax in other Hessian municipalities looks like. Some cities, such as Frankfurt and Fulda, plan to do without the tax, while Darmstadt is an introduction. Gießen, on the other hand, wants to reintroduce an earlier tax. The Kassel-Marburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry has already warned of possible price increases and a decline in purchasing power.

The effects of the tax

An essential example from Tübingen illustrates the financial effects on consumers: an ice cream in the cardboard cup costs 70 cents more than in the waffle. The tax on the paper cup and the associated spoon adds to 70 cents, which is a noticeable increase for customers. However, Marburger restaurants are already relying on reusable packaging and deposit systems in order to meet the increasing pressure through environmental requirements.

The reactions of the Marburg restaurants are mixed. While some react calmly to a possible tax, other concerns about bureaucracy and the different municipal regulations say. In Tübingen, strict requirements apply from January 1, 2022, the sales outlets of disposable packaging and cutlery, and surcharges on reusable packaging are not provided.

The Federal Constitutional Court confirmed the legality of the packaging tax on January 22, 2025, which forms an important basis for Marburg. Information on the packaging tax, funding and contact addresses are available on the website of Tübingen Tuebingen.de . Companies can also request help and additional information materials there.