Germany to force plastic makers to help pay for cleanupsBERLIN (AP) — The German government said Wednesday that it plans to make plastic manufacturers contribute to the cost of cleaning up litter in streets and parks.The Cabinet agreed on a bill that makers of products containing single-use plastic will need to pay into a central fund managed by the government, starting in 2025.The fund is estimated to collect about 450 million euros ($446 million) in the first year, based on the companies’ past production of single-use plastic.Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said the cost of cleanups in Europe’s biggest economy is currently borne by all.“Whoever depends on putting single-use plastic onto the market for their business should contribute to the collection and cleanup costs.”___Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment"