McDonald’s Must Get Rid Of Disposable Cups

McDonald’s must switch entirely to reusable cups for on-premises consumption by 5 January 2027 at the latest. This follows from an order under penalty payment (last onder dwangsom) imposed by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). If McDonald’s fails to comply, it faces a penalty of € 625,000 per violation, up to a maximum of € 3,750,000.

Since 2024, restaurants have been prohibited from serving customers food and drinks for on-premises consumption in disposable cups and containers containing plastic (single-use plastics). Reuse is the norm. Businesses that nevertheless wish to continue using disposable plastic packaging must comply with strict collection and recycling requirements. At least 85% of used cups and containers must be collected for recycling, a figure rising to 90% in 2027. Businesses must also register with the ILT in advance and keep appropriate records.