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★Mark us as a preferred sourceCiting legal uncertainties and EU regulations, the Dutch government will not introduce a national ban on single-use plastics such as cigarette filters and disposable vapes. Under the decision, a deposit return system for squeezable packaging and a planned smoking ban on beaches have also been taken off the agenda.
Legal Obstacles and EU Competence
According to the Dutch government’s position, national legislation targeting environmentally harmful single-use products is too legally uncertain, meaning these issues can be handled more effectively at the European level. This conclusion was outlined in an official letter from Minister van Veldhoven (Climate), Minister Hermans (Public Health), and State Secretary Bertram (Infrastructure and Water Management). The letter also revealed that a potential smoking ban on beaches is not feasible because there is “insufficient local enforcement capacity.”
9 Billion Cigarette Filters and Environmental Pollution
According to an April report by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), approximately 9 billion filter cigarettes are sold annually in the Netherlands. A significant portion of the butts ends up on the streets and in the environment. The RIVM warns that these filters contain cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that decomposes extremely slowly, allowing it to persist in the environment for years.
Flammable Disposable Vapes and the Belgian Example
Disposable e-cigarettes (vapes) must be disposed of with residual waste, but they pose a serious risk: they can cause fires in garbage trucks and waste processing facilities, and they frequently end up in the environment. According to the cabinet, a national ban would conflict with the European Tobacco Products Directive.
Although Belgium successfully introduced a similar ban using an exemption rule, Dutch officials believe that the Netherlands cannot follow the same path. In their view, an “EU-wide ban seems the most promising option,” and the Netherlands will advocate for this solution in Brussels.
No Deposit System for Squeezable Packaging
The cabinet has also ruled out introducing a deposit (return) system for squeezable packaging, which is increasingly used for dairy products, fruit drinks, soap, and detergent. Although these containers are often taken outdoors by consumers—where they also pollute the environment—officials stated that current collection machines are not suitable for handling this type of packaging, making the introduction of the system unfeasible at present.
References and Sources
NL Times (June 13, 2026) – Dutch government rejects new national ban on cigarette filters, disposable vapes