The Dutch government has reportedly scrapped its plans to introduce a polymer levy (polymerenheffing) or the plastic tax.
Cancelling the tax will cause a EUR 567 million budget loss, which will likely be offset by raising the waste tax rate and reallocating the CO2 levy for waste incineration facilities. The government will also restrict the trade of exemption rights for incineration plants.
The government is expected to include these measures in the 2026 Tax Plan.
The plastic tax was outlined in Letter No. 2025-0000106485, which was published on the Ministry of Finance website on 25 April 2025. It aimed to cut fossil-based plastic production and generate state revenue. However, it was cancelled after businesses argued it would hurt their competitiveness and put additional strain on SMEs in the polymer sector.
Earlier, the Netherlands State Secretary for Finance submitted a list of proposed tax measures to the lower house of parliament on 25 April 2025. These measures are expected to be incorporated into the annual Tax Plan for the upcoming year.
