The issue of plastic packaging waste has been at the forefront of political thinking in Europe in recent years. On January 1, 2021, the European Union (EU) introduced a levy based on the amount of non-recycled plastic packaging waste produced by each EU member state (Czech Republic). This "plastic levy" is designed to reduce the spread of non-recycled plastic waste while funding the EU's 2021-2027 budget against the backdrop of increased spending resulting from the pandemic. Each member state is obliged to pay a levy, which is determined by multiplying the rate of 0.80 euros per kilogram by the weight of non-recycled plastic packaging waste. While some Member States pay levies from their national budgets, others have introduced (or are about to introduce) new taxes, duties, fees, charges or contributions on plastic products or have extended (or are considering extending) existing systems to tax plastic products as well. (Inés Blanco de Tord, more at lexology.com)