The city of Bonn is offering smaller catering businesses in the city area a financial incentive to switch to reusable alternatives and is paying up to 20 businesses a one-off sum of 1,000 euros. In addition to the financial support, the businesses will also be highlighted online on the "Bonn geht den Mehrweg" city map - Bonnorange has been pursuing the goal of avoiding single-use waste with this initiative since 2019.

The Council's decision is subject to the proviso that the administration must first clarify whether the proposed implementation is legally compliant. If this is the case, businesses in Bonn can apply for funding online at  www.bonn-geht-den-mehrweg.de (opens in a new tab), provided they have a maximum of five employees and a maximum sales area of 80 square meters.

Since January 1, 2023, a reusable obligation has been in force: catering businesses must offer reusable alternatives for plastic packaging and beverage cups - and at no more expensive than the disposable variants. Until now, an exception has applied to small catering businesses: they are only obliged to fill drinks and food into containers brought in by customers. The new subsidy program now makes it attractive for these businesses to switch completely to reusable options.