Greifswald rejects packaging tax: cleanliness plans without financing!

Greifswald rejects packaging tax: cleanliness plans without financing!

In Greifswald, members of the citizenry met for an important meeting to discuss measures to improve cleanliness in the city. On July 15, 2025, the decision was made that although six of seven points in the proposed resolution were approved, the intended introduction of a packaging tax fell by the wayside. This project, which was launched by a cross-party initiative of the CDU, SPD/The Left and ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS, did not receive the necessary majority - the vote ended with 18 yes votes, 18 no votes and one abstention. This means that the planned tax, which should have covered an amount of 1.2 million euros to finance the other measures, remains on hold for the time being.

The background to these plans is an urgent concern: the cityscape is increasingly suffering from packaging waste and full trash cans. To counteract this, measures such as emptying trash cans more frequently and additional emptying at larger events have been outlined.Level sensors also represent a way to increase the efficiency of waste management.

Criticism of the packaging tax

The rejection of the packaging tax is no coincidence. [dehoga-mv.de](https://www.dehoga-mv.de/artikel/ Verpackungssteuer-in-greifswald-dehoga-entscheid-dagegen) reports that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry had already expressed concerns in advance. Lars Schwarz, President of DEHOGA MV, criticized the introduction as disproportionate and administratively intensive. His main argument: The tax could result in significant burdens for companies, municipalities and consumers.

Due to the possible differences in municipal regulations and tax rates, he sees the danger of a Bavaria-wide patchwork quilt. Schwarz emphasizes that in the current economic situation in the catering industry, where many companies are already in crisis, such additional burdens are unacceptable.

Nationwide perspective

The topic of packaging tax is being discussed at the entire federal level. While the tax has been levied in cities like Tübingen since 2022, Greifswald is faced with the decision to implement a similar regulation. [dihk.de]. Ultimately, these measures are primarily intended to reduce packaging waste and promote reusable packaging.

A DIHK study provides insight into the concerns of the economy, showing that companies in the hospitality industry spend an average of 14 hours per week on legal requirements. The bureaucratic effort is already enormous.

What remains is the uncertainty about the financing of the measures decided in Greifswald. While cleanliness measures are set to get underway, it remains unclear how the city can sustain them in the long term without resorting to the controversial packaging tax. Local administrations and companies are called upon to develop pragmatic solutions through dialogue in order to be able to address the waste problem more efficiently.