Germany is going to ban plastic cotton buds, straws, cutlery and plates, balloon sticks and food containers. That is what the German cabinet decided today. The disposable plastic will be banned from July 3, 2021.

Germany's decision is in line with European Union regulations to combat plastic pollution. From 2021, the use of disposable plastics will be banned in the EU. This also includes the so-called bioplastic, which is often offered as a sustainable alternative.

The German Environment Minister says the decision is part of a plan to tackle the 'throwaway culture'. More than 20 percent of the garbage in public places is disposable plastic.

Plastic mountain grown by corona

The decision comes at a time when the use of, for example, plastic cutlery has increased in the catering industry, out of fear that the virus may be transmitted via ordinary reusable cutlery. As a result, the waste mountain has grown in recent months. "

Free plastic bags were already banned in the Netherlands in 2016. The number of plastic bags in litter has since decreased by 60 percent. The Netherlands will also ban plastic disposable items such as straws from 2021.

In recent months, more and more companies have spoken out against single-use plastics. For example, HEMA is banning disposable plastic and IKEA and McDonald's no longer want to use plastic straws.