The EU has given the Member States ambitious targets for the recycling of packaging and waste paper. Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA) exceeded the previous targets and will also meet the stricter targets applicable as of this year, ARA announced at a background briefing with journalists. Other Member States were flagged by the European Court of Auditors for implausible figures. ARA still sees potential to raise domestic recycling rates.
Austrian households collected around 1.02 million tonnes of packaging and waste paper last year, slightly more than the year before. While there were slight declines in glass and paper, more was collected in lightweight and metal packaging. Austria has so far proven itself a model student in recycling rates and is well placed with regard to the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): for paper the previous target was 60 percent, raised to 75 percent this year—and Austria achieves 80 percent. For plastic, Austria was at 30 percent, above the EU target of 22.5 percent since 2020; in the ARA licensing volumes it was 38 percent. ARA is optimistic of meeting this year’s 50 percent target. For ferrous metals, aluminium and glass Austria already stands at 83 percent, well above the EU 2030 targets. In packaging and municipal waste Austria is only marginally below the 2030 recycling goals.
This year’s introduced deposit system for PET bottles and beverage cans puts pressure on licence revenues and removes raw materials. ARA has therefore raised its fees—however moderately compared to other providers, noted ARA Board Spokesperson Harald Hauke.
Potential in Commercial Collection
While household collection of packaging and waste paper works well, there is potential in commercial collection, ARA Board Member Thomas Eck noted. Since early 2023 businesses have been obliged to separate their packaging waste and deliver it cleanly to collection and recycling systems. But the transport subsidy granted to them is clearly no sufficient incentive. Of the 100,000 tonnes of plastic packaging from commercial sources, only about one third is delivered separately; the rest ends up in mixed commercial waste and is thermally treated. “Here the regulations must be revised,” said Eck. Many businesses lack the space to store packaging separately, the ARA board member pointed out.
Currently, Member States’ reported recycling rates are insufficiently checked for plausibility, ARA referred to a criticism by the European Court of Auditors. In one country with a recycling rate of 37 percent and a plastic recycling rate of 32 percent, the auditors noted mafia structures could be at play—fictional waste may have been reported as recycled.
Verification of Recycling Rates
“The economy in this country has invested massively in recent years to meet the legal requirements and achieve the 50 percent recycling rate in the plastics sector by 2025,” said Hauke. But this must not become a competitive disadvantage. “That is why we demand that the reported recycling rates be audited by the EU.”
From 2030 a minimum use of recyclates ranging from 10 to 35 percent is prescribed in plastic packaging. By 2040 these values rise to 25 to 65 percent. ARA is preparing for these new requirements with a new sorting plant and a polyolefin processing facility. The treatment plant in Pöchlarn can process 20,000 tonnes of plastic sorting residues per year, which previously were only used as substitute fuel.
