What consumers need to pay attention to in the future

There are only a few days left before on January 1, 2025 the one-way deposit for beverage packaging is introduced.

But what will change for consumers at the beginning of January? How much deposit do you have to pay and how do you get your money back? The COURIER clarifies this most important questions around the topic:

For which packaging will a deposit have to be paid in the future?

As is already the case with reusable packaging, a deposit for disposable plastic or metal beverage packaging will also be introduced in January. This means that when customers buy a PET bottle or a can 25 cents each You have to pay which you will get back when you return the packaging. This applies to containers with a capacity of 0.1 to 3 liters. The deposit bottles will be identified by their own logo on the label.

Are there exceptions?

Composite beverage cartons (Tetra Pak) are exempt from the disposable deposit. Also Milch and dairy products and bottles for complementary foods or medical products are not covered by the deposit requirement for hygiene reasons, just as Syrupas these are not suitable for direct consumption. The packaging of the excluded products will be disposed of in the yellow bag or bin as before.

When will these returnable bottles be available in stores?

Since beverage manufacturers will only be able to deliver the new packaging with a deposit logo at the beginning of January, the first deposit bottles and cans will probably not be available until the second week of January can be found in stores. From the end of March, packaging without a deposit logo may no longer be produced for the domestic market. The “old” beverage packaging can still be sold in stores without a deposit until the end of 2025.

Where can consumers return their beverage packaging?

Bottles and cans can be returned wherever they are sold. At the locations of the large supermarket chains, returns are available almost everywhere vending machines (like before with beer bottles). Smaller retailers such as bakeries or tobacconists usually take the deposited goods personal back and pay off the deposit. However, you only have to accept the type of packaging that you sell yourself (e.g. only cans and 0.5 liter PET bottles) and only in the quantities that are normally purchased with a purchase (usually one or two pieces).

What should you pay attention to when returning?

The bottles and cans must be returned empty and uncrushed This must also be the case with PET bottles Label completely present be. In order for the beverage packaging to be assigned to the Austrian deposit system, it is also necessary that the deposit logo and the barcode are clearly visible. Only then will consumers get their 25 cents per package back. Dealers must give their customers the opportunity to receive the deposit in the form of cash and not just to get it back as a voucher.

Why do you need a one-way deposit anyway?

Since plastic and aluminum are important recyclable materials, as much of it as possible should be collected and recycled. Currently, around 70 percent of single-use plastic bottles in Austria end up back in the cycle. This is intended to be achieved through the one-way deposit Collection rate increased to at least 80 percent by 2025 and to at least 90 percent by 2027. At the same time, the one-way deposit is intended to create the so-called “Littering” (i.e. carelessly throwing away packaging into the environment) can be prevented.

Who organizes the deposit system?

The Austrian one-way deposit system was based on a regulation by the Ministry of Climate Protection from the non-profit organization EWP Recycling Pfand Austria GmbH developed that will continue to handle this in the future. The managing directors of the company are Monika Fiala and Simon Parth. The EWP Recycling Pfand Austria belongs to this One-way deposit sponsoring associationwhose members are the beverage manufacturers and retailers as returnees.

How is the project financed?

The one-way deposit system is not financed by tax money, but rather by contributions that beverage manufacturers make to EWP Recycling Pfand Austria. In addition, the material proceeds that are collected from the sale of the recyclable materials and the unpaid deposit amounts (the so-called Pfandschlupf) contributes to the financing. Ultimately, consumers will not incur any additional costs as a result of the introduction of the deposit system.