Worth Reading: The German City That Defied McDonald’s and Dumped ‘To-Go’ Waste | An Encouraging Development

Worth Reading: The German City That Defied McDonald’s and Dumped ‘To-Go’ Waste | An Encouraging Development

Why this story matters: In a time when pessimism is easy, this story provides a grounded reason for optimism. Quick summary: This story highlights recent developments related to cities, showing how constructive action can lead to meaningful results. O n a sunny afternoon, the McDonald’s at the edge of Tübingen buzzes with customers. Teenagers loiter over fries, a family shares burgers, cardboard cups and boxes pile up on plastic trays. Nothing here suggests rebellion. And yet, this fast-food outpost sits at the center of one of Germany’s most consequential environmental experiments. Since January 2022, the city of Tübingen has been charging 50 cents ($0.60) for nearly every piece of disposable “to-go” packaging — every coffee cup, every pizza box, every burger wrapper — and 20 cents ($0.25) for throwaway cutlery or straws. The historic university city in southwestern Germany pioneered the model to stem its waste tsunami. The goal was blunt: Make single-use packaging just inconvenient enou…