Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) said the current collection system for used garments is overwhelmed, with containers frequently filled beyond capacity and operators struggling to cope.
“Fast fashion also leads to an extreme waste problem here in Germany,” he told the Rheinische Post.
According to Schneider, most consumers are unaware of the scale of the issue, remarking, “The consequences of this order-and-throw mentality are really dramatic.”
New legislation set for introduction this summer would require fashion providers to register and share in disposal costs.
Prices for low-cost clothing could rise slightly, but the minister said the measure is intended to generate resources for recycling and waste management: “Above all, however, there will be new sources of finance for recycling and disposal of used clothes,” he stated.
Efforts to restrict cheap imports also include a customs surcharge of €3 ($3.4) per package, adopted by EU finance ministers last month.
“The most important part of the solution is to buy less of these cheap packages from China,” Schneider said.
The EU has increased import charges as part of broader measures aimed at curbing an influx of low-priced items from platforms such as Temu and Shein.
Last September, more than 20 European textile and garment organisations urged authorities to implement immediate regulations against ultra-fast fashion.
Their proposals included a tax on small-parcel deliveries and ending customs duty exemptions for goods valued under €150 ($177.70).
French officials also reportedly pressed the European Commission to give regulators new powers over online platforms that breach EU rules, focusing on ultra-fast fashion brands.
