Greifswald rejects packaging tax - what kind of cleanliness?

Greifswald rejects packaging tax - what kind of cleanliness?

Greifswald, Deutschland - In the Hanseatic city of Greifswald, the introduction of a packaging tax is out of the question. In a meeting of the citizens on July 15, 2025, the corresponding proposal with 18 votes in favor, 18 no votes and one abstention was rejected. This decision follows controversial discussions within city politics and the economy. The initiative to implement a packaging tax came from the CDU, SPD/DIE LINKE and BUNGE 90/DIE GRÜNEN and should originally help to improve cleanliness in the city.

The adopted measures for cleanliness include a more frequent emptying of the trash cans and additional emptying at larger events. For the implementation of these different points, the administration will also check whether level sensors can be introduced for trash cans. However, the financial resources for the total required amount of 1.2 million euros are still unclear to cover these measures. The citizens had treated seven points at the meeting, but only six were accepted.

economic concerns

The rejection of the proposal for a packaging tax is observed, especially because the Chamber of Commerce and Industry sees the introduction critically. Lars Schwarz, President of the DEHOGA MV, has vehemently spoken out against the tax. He describes the regulation as disproportionate, administrative -intensive and ineffective. Black warns that such a tax means additional burdens for companies, municipalities and consumers and argues that they do not fit into time.

the introduction of a packaging tax in contradiction to the efforts of de -bureaucratization, which are currently to be promoted at the national level. The risk of a "nationwide patch carpet" with different municipal regulations would also not only put a lot of burden on companies, but also consumers. With tax rates and criteria that vary depending on the municipality, there are considerable uncertainties for everyone involved.

national developments

The discussion about packaging taxes is not new and has already established itself in Germany in other cities such as Tübingen, Heidelberg and Freiburg. The tax has been charged in Tübingen since 2022, and the Federal Constitutional Court confirmed the legality of this measure at the end of 2024. Companies in these cities report an increased bureaucratic effort: According to a DIHK study, companies in the hospitality industry spend an average of 14 hours a week with legal requirements. Small retail businesses even invest around 38 hours a month in bureaucratic duties.

The introduction of a packaging tax in Greifswald would also mean that companies would have to adapt to various regulations and tax rate. Another point of criticism is the ambiguity of the actual effectiveness of the tax to avoid waste. In this respect, many in the economy look like more practical solutions that do not rely on additional loads, but rather offer positive incentives for reusable packaging and the expansion of return and cleaning structures.

The decision of the Greifswald citizens is therefore an important step in the middle of the continued discussion about the duty and benefit of packaging taxes in Germany. A clear line and practical solutions seem urgently necessary to meet both the ecological and economic challenges.

Further information can be found in the reports of NDR , dehoga mv and Dihk .