Austrians throw millions into the trash - deposit system under pressure!
Austrians throw millions into the trash - deposit system under pressure!
Österreich - in Austria has been a new deposit system in Austria since January 2023 that occupies plastic bottles and doses with a deposit of 25 cents. Consumers have the option of receiving their deposit by bringing the empty containers back to withdrawal machines. However, around 20 percent of these bottles and cans end up in the trash, which is alarming. In the first two months after the system was introduced, around 100 million deposit bottles and doses were sold, but only 10 million were brought back by mid -March 2023. According to Monika Fiala, managing director of "Recycling Pfand Österreich", optimism is still evident in the future response rate.
The goal of the deposit system is to increase the return rate to 80 percent by 2025 and to increase to 90 percent by 2027. With a 90 percent response rate, around 10 million containers would land in the trash, which corresponds to a loss of around 2.5 million euros. The regulation excludes certain products such as beverage cartons, glass bottles and bottles for complementary foods. By the end of March 2025, manufacturers can still produce pledge -free bottles and cans, but it is expected to disappear faster from the shelves.
support and awareness among the population
According to a survey by "Marketagent", 80 percent of Austrians support the introduction of the deposit system. In addition, 73 percent feel well informed about the details of the system. A high detection rate of the deposit containers also shows: 84 percent of the population are able to identify deposit containers, while 87 percent know that they have to be returned in an undeniable manner. Unfortunately, around five million euros remain unused because many consumers store their bottles and cans in the households instead of returning them.
With the new disposable deposit regulation, which will come into force on January 1, 2024, the recycling initiatives are to be further reinforced. Around 2.2 billion bottles and cans are expected annually, which can be recycled, which contributes to the promotion of a circulatory system and to reduce littering. As of January 2, 2024, new drinks packaging, which are provided with a Pfand logo, will be delivered, which can be handed over from 2025.
targeted measures against plastic waste
In another context, it is important to take into account the challenges of plastic waste management in the EU. Recycling is a central method, but most of the plastic collected is exported outside the EU, which is often due to a lack of capacity or technologies for local waste treatment. These circumstances contribute to an increase in combustion and deposit of plastic waste, which in turn has negative effects on the environment.
The EU endeavors to develop climate -friendly and circulatory methods for the management of plastic waste. However, the small proportion of plastic recycling suggests significant losses for economy and the environment. In 2019, around 22 million tons of plastic came into soils, rivers and seas, which is an alarming indication of the urgency of effective measures.
Overall, the innovations in the Austrian deposit system show that society is gradually approaching a more sustainable future, while at the same time the need is emphasized to urgently improve the handling of plastic waste throughout the EU. For further information we refer to the articles of Austria, ÖPB and DetailsOrt Österreich Quellen
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