The extension of Belgium's packaging levy, one of the measures included in the budget agreement finalised on Tuesday by the federal government, should net the State an extra €60 million.
Belgium has imposed the levy - a tax on individual containers containing beverages except milk and its derivatives - since 2004. It is now €1.41 per hectolitre for recyclable containers and €9.86 per hectolitre for single-use packaging.
According to the Finance Department, this tax brought in €343.6 million to the country’s accounts. The government wants to extend it from 1 October 2023.
While the texts have not yet been finalised, the aim is to extend the tax to non-drink containers and to be more restrictive in the definition of recyclable, according to the office of Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem.
For the Comeos trade federation , this is “absurd.” “The Belgian consumer will have to foot the bill,” it said.
“The avalanche of taxes is gradually becoming incalculable,” added the federation, recalling that in addition to regional and federal taxes, the sector also contributes €204 million for the collection of packaging through the blue bag system.
