Single-use plastics: these are the rules
There are rules for using single-use plastics. As a producer, you sometimes have to pay for cleaning up litter. As an establishment owner, you may not provide single-use plastic cups and containers for food and drink served on the premises. Read what the rules are. And what it means for your company.
On this page
- Rules for disposable plastic cups and containers (single-use plastics)
- Ban on free plastic bags
- Ban on the sale of single-use products
- Ban on microplastics sales
- Producers pay for cleaning up plastic litter
- Producers pay for collecting (plastic) packaging
- Rules for bottles and beverage packaging
- Deposit on small plastic bottles and cans
- Frequently Asked Questions
Rules for disposable plastic cups and containers (single-use plastics)
Do you run a hospitality business, canteen, food truck, office or shop with food products that users take away (to-go products) or consume on site? Then you have to deal with the rules on disposable plastic cups and containers:
- When collecting or delivering food or drinks, you should offer your customers a reusable alternative to disposable plastic cups and trays. For example, by offering your own cups and trays that can be reused. Or by accepting cups or trays that customers bring with them.
- When eating and drinking on site, you may not offer disposable plastic cups and containers. Only healthcare facilities and closed institutions (such as prisons) are allowed to deviate from this.
Use the step-by-step plan: from disposable to reusable (in Dutch) when you start using reusable cups and containers.
Which rules apply to your situation? Read the (Dutch only) information for various sectors, such as supermarkets, offices, and events.
Ban on free plastic bags
You are not allowed to give your customer a free plastic carrier bag. Your customer has to pay. Free bags made of reusable materials, such as paper or fabric, are allowed. There are some situations in which you are allowed to give a thin plastic bag, for example to protect unwrapped foodstuffs.
Read more about the ban on plastic carrier bags.
Ban on the sale of single-use products
Do you produce, distribute, or sell single-use plastics? There are a number of disposable plastic products you may not market. Examples are plates, cutlery, stirrers, straws, and Q-tips made of plastic or bioplastic. You must also print a marking on the product or on the packaging for certain products.
Read more about the ban on single-use products and mandatory marking.
Ban on microplastics sales
It is not allowed to sell microplastics of 5 millimetres or smaller. Examples include loose glitter and cleaning products.
Producers pay for cleaning up plastic litter
Do you produce or import plastic disposables? You may have an extended producer responsibility (EPR). For certain products, you must contribute towards the cost of clearing up litter. This applies to items such as disposable plastic cups and containers, bags, wrappers, and carrier bags. Read more about how the manufacturers’ contribution is calculated (in Dutch). You must also encourage consumers to dispose of disposable products properly and to prevent litter.
Read more about the collection of the waste and the clearing up of litter.
Producers pay for collecting (plastic) packaging
Are you a producer or importer, and do you make, buy, or sell packaging materials or packaged products? You may have an extended producer responsibility (EPR). This means that you have to make sure the packaging is collected and recycled. You have to sing up with Verpact to do so.
Read more about the rules for the disposal of packaging.
Rules for bottles and beverage packaging
In the case of beverage containers, the caps must remain attached during use.
This does not apply to:
- bottles and beverage packaging for medical use, and
- bottles and beverage packaging of more than 3 litres.
Rules for bottles made from recycled material
- 25% of the material of a PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate) must consist of recycled material.
- From 2030, 30% of the material of all bottles must be recycled.
Deposit on small plastic bottles and cans
Small plastic bottles for soft drinks and water are subject to a deposit (statiegeld). Read more about this at statiegeldnederland.nl (in Dutch).
Frequently Asked Questions
Plastics are:
- All polymers that do not occur naturally.
- Natural polymers that have been chemically modified.
This definition also includes products made from biobased and biodegradable plastics. And products (such as wet wipes) made from viscose.
If a product is not made, designed, or marketed for reuse. For example, it is not sturdy enough to clean for reuse. Or the product cannot be put in the dishwasher.
You may no longer offer the banned products for sale in the Netherlands. But, if you run a shop or a wholesale business, you may still sell or use existing stock, as these products have already been placed on the market. In the case of disposable cups and containers for on-premises consumption, existing stock may not be used up.
There is no end date by which your existing stocks must be finished. But you must be able to demonstrate that it actually concerns existing stock. For example, with an order list or invoice.
Yes, you may sell disposable plastic cups. The cups must have a mandatory marking. The marking makes it clear that the cup is plastic and does not belong in the environment. Disposable cups made of polystyrene foam (EPS) or oxo-degradable plastics are banned.
The extended producer responsibility for disposable plastic cups applies. This means that producers and importers contribute to the collection of the cups and the prevention of litter.
The rules also apply to disposable products made from recycled plastic. Recycling plastic is good for the environment. By recycling you emit less CO2. But recycled plastic does not degrade in nature either. So, the problems it causes in nature and the sea are the same as with ordinary plastic. Check which measures apply to the product when using recycled plastic.
The rules also apply to disposable products made from bioplastics (biobased or biodegradable). There are many types of bioplastics. For example, plastic made from corn, grain stalks, or sugar cane. It may be better for the environment to use non-fossil raw materials. But bioplastics do not break down fast enough in nature. So, bioplastic litter causes the same problems as regular plastic.
All products made from oxo-degradable plastic are prohibited. These products appear to be biodegradable. But this is not the case. When the plastic comes into contact with oxygen and sunlight, it breaks down into small pieces. These microplastics end up in nature and are very harmful.
As an alternative, you can opt for reusable products. These are intended and made for reuse. Or you choose disposable products without plastic.
Disposable products that are allowed are made from:
- paper,
- wood,
- other natural materials without additives or chemical changes.
These products must meet all other European product requirements. Pay close attention to the rules for food contact materials. Materials intended to come into contact with food must meet stricter hygiene requirements.
There are also products made of water-repellent paper. Make sure to check whether such a product meets the requirements for food contact materials.
Read more about the rules for working safely with food.
Plastic tableware with bamboo is banned
The sale of plastic tableware with bamboo as a filler is not allowed. Read more about bamboo tableware (in Dutch).
For drinking cups, you must imprint the marking on each cup. For tobacco products and hygiene products, print the marking on the (primary) packaging. You do not need to mark packages smaller than 10 cm2.
Read more about rules for single-use plastics.
Yes. You can find the standard markings in different languages on the website of the European Commission. You print the marking in the language of the Member State where the product is marketed. This can also be in several Member States and several languages.
Yes. The product is partly made of plastic.
Do you have questions about the use of disposable plastic? Email your question to Afvalbeheer@RWS.nl. Or contact the Helpdesk Waste Management of Rijkswaterstaat.