With over 26,000 votes: FPÖ calls for a stop to the controversial deposit system!

With over 26,000 votes: FPÖ calls for a stop to the controversial deposit system!

In Austria, resistance to the deposit system planned for January 1, 2025 is increasing. Michael Schnedlitz, General Secretary of the FPÖ, reports over 26,000 signatures for the petition “STOP bottle deposits!” within two and a half days. were collected. This initiative is seen as a clear protest against a system that could impose new burdens on small businesses and families, while large corporations would have an advantage. Schnedlitz expresses clear criticism of the bureaucracy and the need for repairs of the system, which in his opinion is being introduced under the guise of environmental protection. “Empty machines, lost receipts and incorrect returns” are just some of the feared problems that the population could face, he explains.

In addition, Schnedlitz is calling for the deposit system to be abolished because he warns of new financial burdens for consumers. The FPÖ politician points to the successes of previous FPÖ initiatives, including a veto against the WHO pandemic treaty, and calls on the population to support the petition. “Every entry counts,” he emphasizes, in order to promote alternative recycling solutions that may be more viable.

The background of the new deposit system

Starting in the new year, a comprehensive reform of waste separation will apply in Austria. This includes a one-way deposit of 25 cents on plastic bottles and beverage cans with a volume of up to three liters. This is in the context of an ambitious goal: a recycling rate of 90 percent for plastic bottles should be achieved by 2029, with Austria already at around 70 percent in 2022. In comparison, Germany has a recycling rate of 98 percent and the Netherlands 95 percent.

By mid-March 2025, over 12 million of the 100 million deposit containers produced had already been returned, and the number of returns was doubling almost weekly. Nevertheless, recycling expert Christian Abl expresses concerns and sees the current deposit system as a “missed opportunity for innovation”. Abl, who was involved in the preparation phase of the deposit system, suggests establishing a digital deposit system in which bottles are tagged with QR codes and repayment could be made via smartphones. This could increase efficiency and reduce costs for operators.

Criticism of the monopoly and the financial consequences

Abl also criticizes the monopoly of the EWP Recycling Pfand Austria association and fears that such a system could result in higher costs for consumers. However, Recycling Pfand Austria emphasizes that the efficiency and financing of the system are regulated in the deposit regulation. The technical requirements for a digital deposit system do not currently exist. A collection rate of 80 percent should also be achieved by the end of 2025.

The dispute over the new deposit system already clearly shows the divided opinion among the population and among experts. While the recycling rate should be increased, the question remains as to how the balance can be found between consumer protection and environmental protection. The FPÖ and its supporters are calling for a rethink in order to protect the interests of families and small businesses.