Bad Homburg: Restaurateurs and customers are fighting against the reusable obligation!

Bad Homburg: Restaurateurs and customers are fighting against the reusable obligation!

In Bad Homburg there is currently a lot of discussion about the topic of reusables. Since 2023, catering establishments in Germany that offer takeaway food or drinks must also provide reusable containers in their offerings. This is intended to help reduce the enormous packaging waste, which amounts to around 350,000 tons annually in Germany. But the first results after the introduction of this regulation are mixed. Both customers and restaurateurs are cautious about these new requirements. That's what she reports Frankfurter Neue Presse.

A survey in Bad Homburg shows that both innkeepers and guests are struggling with the new obligation. Critics criticize the lack of a uniform system and the high complexity of the regulations. Many small businesses that are exempt from the regulation have even decided to forgo to-go options entirely in order to avoid the increased effort. Although the city of Bad Homburg monitors compliance with the obligation to offer reusable containers, many restaurateurs with fewer than five employees are not obliged to offer reusable containers.

High costs and skepticism among restaurateurs

For many innkeepers, switching to reusable packaging not only means greater organizational effort, but also additional costs. The monthly fees for providers such as “Recup” and “Rebowl” are between 25 and 45 euros, depending on the size of the company. But restaurateurs complain about high one-off costs and space problems caused by storing reusable containers. Customers are particularly skeptical as they find it difficult to cope with the sometimes high deposit amounts of 1 euro for cups and 5 euros for larger containers.

Around Bad Homburg, the BUND is cautiously taking a stand for the environment and calling for a ban on disposable packaging. These are particularly often used by small businesses that are less affected by the new regulations. One solution is alternative systems such as the “Vytal” app, where customers can rent packaging in order to minimize the administrative effort for restaurateurs.

Future prospects and savings potential

However, it's not all doom and gloom for many entrepreneurs. An example calculation shows that restaurateurs could theoretically even save money in some cases by switching to reusable food. It is also hoped that customers will become more open to the new offers over time. Maybe people will soon realize that reusables can also make a small contribution to environmental protection.

In summary, the introduction of the reusable offer in Bad Homburg is an exciting topic that presents both opportunities and challenges. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming months and whether consumer skepticism can be overcome. In any case, the discussion about packaging waste and sustainable alternatives is not over yet.