With a new reporting portal, the environmental organization Greenpeace wants to put pressure on the implementation of the multi-way offer obligation in the hospitality industry, which has been in force since the beginning of the year. As announced by Greenpeace, the portal announced in February will be launched this Thursday (March 29). It was said that violations could be reported directly to the respective state authorities – i.e. usually to the environment ministries of the states.
The data of the transactions that do not comply with the rules from the point of view of the reporting party, as well as the type of violations and the personal data of the reporting party are stored in the portal. Based on the postal code entered, the notification is sent by e-mail to the relevant state authority. “Ideally, municipal law enforcement officers should now check on site whether the violations continue and then warn them to end them,” explained Greenpeace.
In the event of persistent violations and, if necessary, after further warnings, the authorities could then impose fines. The Greenpeace expert for circular economy, Viola Wohlgemuth, criticized that almost three months after the law came into force, the responsibilities for implementation had not even been clarified. Based on test purchases in the catering trade, the organization had complained at the beginning of the year that many companies were not complying with the requirements.
The multiple-way offer obligation has been in effect since January 1st. Restaurants, bistros and cafés that sell takeaway food and drinks must therefore also offer their products in reusable packaging. This is intended to replace single-use plastic packaging. However, the same product in reusable packaging must not be more expensive than in disposable packaging. Excluded are smaller shops such as snack bars and kiosks, in which a maximum of five employees work and which have a retail area of no more than 80 square meters. Violations can result in fines of up to 10,000 euros.
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