Austria's deposit system is booming: a million bottles and doses back!

Austria's deposit system is booming: a million bottles and doses back!

In Austria, a new deposit system for disposable bottles and cans has revolutionized recycling for two and a half months. According to ORF , around one million bottles and cans have already been brought back on the market, with 60 percent doses and 40 percent bottles. Simon Parth, Managing Director of Recycling Pfand Austria, reports on a strong increase in the empty containers brought back. However, it is expected that these growth rates could stagnate in the coming weeks. Consumers often seem to overlook the pawn logo on the bottles, which leads to uncertainties, especially in dairy products, where the deposit depends on the exact composition.

return obligation and machines

All sales outlets that sell drinks in disposable packaging are legally obliged to withdraw the corresponding bottles and cans and to pay the pawn, such as the bmk . Return machines are available in more than 6,000 locations, mostly in grocery stores. All deposit bottles and sockets can be returned here. Sales without machines are only obliged to withdraw the packaging that they offer themselves, and this in the amount they usually sell. For example, a bakery only has to withdraw a limited number of PET bottles, even if it does not have to accept other sizes.

Despite the progress in recycling, many doses still end up in the waste collection centers, so that valuable deposit amounts are lost. The simple return is a key to promoting recycling and reducing waste. It remains to be seen how the return rates will develop, while consumers' awareness of the new pledge system is growing.