Amsterdam is studying a ban on single-use packaging such as takeaway cups and food containers, after a legal review found the city is allowed to introduce one.
The municipality now has to work out what form a ban would take, and no start date has been set.
Research cited by the city shows that 30% of street litter is single-use packaging, and deputy mayor Lian Heinhuis says cleaning up and raising awareness are not enough.
Reusable packaging options
Heinhuis wants to learn from Copenhagen, which has been trialling a return system for reusable takeaway packaging since October 2025, and from Lisbon.
In Lisbon, customers pay a 50-cent deposit per cup and get it back on a card or phone when they return it.
Another option is reusable cups and containers that can be handed in at any business, not just the shop that sold them.
Heinhuis questions whether a deposit would keep the streets cleaner or tempt people to pull open bins in search of cups.
The city plans to talk to businesses, experts and the other cities as its research continues.
In the meantime, check out our guide to how Amsterdam handles household waste and recycling.