City officials have voted against a proposed tax targeting single-use food items in Kaiserslautern. (Lillian Miller/U.S. Air Force)

A plan to tax disposable food packaging and utensils in Kaiserslautern has been voted down by the city council, according to a Wednesday report by Südwestrundfunk.

The measure, first proposed in 2023 and revived earlier this year, would have applied to items such as takeaway coffee cups and single-use cutlery, with costs falling on the businesses using them. City officials gathered public feedback through an online survey in April.

Supporters called the tax a win for the environment and local budget. Critics questioned whether it would actually reduce litter.

While Kaiserslautern had not set rates, the city of Tübingen, which pioneered the approach, charges 50 euro cents for items like cups and containers, and 20 euro cents for cutlery and straws.