Only a few days are left before the single-use deposit for drink packaging is introduced on 1 January 2025.
But what will change for consumers at the beginning of January? How much deposit do they have to pay, and how do they get their money back?
Which packaging will be subject to a deposit in future?
As is already the case with reusable packaging, a deposit will also be introduced for disposable plastic or metal drinks packaging in January. Customers will have to pay 25 cents per PET bottle or can, which will be refunded when they return the packaging. This applies to containers with a capacity of 0.1 to 3 liters. The deposit bottles will be recognizable by their own logo on the label.
Are there any exceptions?
Beverage cartons (Tetra Pak) are exempt from the one-way deposit. For hygienic reasons, milk and dairy products, bottles for baby food or medical products, and syrups are not covered by the mandatory deposit, as they are not suitable for direct consumption. The packaging of exempt products will continue to be disposed of in the yellow bag or garbage can.
When will these deposit bottles be available in stores?
As drinks manufacturers are not allowed to deliver the new packaging with the deposit logo until the beginning of January, the first deposit bottles and cans are not expected to be on sale until the second week of January. From the end of March, packaging without the deposit logo may no longer be produced for the domestic market. However, the “old” drinks packaging without a deposit may still be sold in stores until 2025.
Where can consumers return their drinks packaging?
Bottles and cans can be returned where they are sold. At the locations of the supermarket chains, return is possible almost everywhere via vending machines (as was previously the case with beer bottles, for example). Smaller retailers, such as bakeries or tobacconists, usually take back the returnable packaging in person and pay out the deposit. However, they only have to accept the type of packaging they sell themselves (e.g., only cans and 0.5 liter PET bottles) and only in the quantities normally purchased (usually one or two pieces).
What should you look out for when returning bottles?
When returned, the bottles and cans must be empty and uncrushed, and the label on PET bottles must also be complete. The deposit logo and barcode must also be clearly recognizable for the beverage packaging to be assigned to the Austrian deposit system. Only then will consumers receive their 25 cents per packaging back. Retailers must allow customers to get their deposits back as cash, not just vouchers.
Why do we need a one-way deposit at all?
Plastic and aluminum are important recyclable materials, so as much as possible should be collected and recycled. Currently, around 70 percent of single-use plastic bottles in Austria end up back in the cycle. The one-way deposit is intended to increase this collection rate to at least 80 percent by 2025 and at least 90 percent by 2027. At the same time, the one-way deposit is intended to prevent littering (the careless discarding of packaging in the environment).
Who organizes the deposit system?
The non-profit organization EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich GmbH developed the Austrian single-use deposit system based on a decree issued by the Ministry of Climate Protection. The company’s managing directors are Monika Fiala and Simon Parth. EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich belongs to the sponsoring association Einwegpfand, whose members are the beverage manufacturers and the retailers as return recipients.
How is the project financed?
The one-way deposit system is not financed by taxpayers’ money but by beverage producers’ contributions to EWP Recycling Deposit Austria. In addition, the material proceeds from the sale of recyclable materials and the deposit amounts not paid out (the so-called deposit slip) also contribute to the financing. Ultimately, introducing the deposit system will not result in additional costs for consumers.
source: kurier.at/picture: 2025 kommt das Einweg-Pfand-System
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