Austrian households have collected over one million tonnes of packaging and waste paper this year, according to Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA).

In total, around 537,700 tonnes of paper, 253,800 tonnes of glass and 230,300 tonnes of lightweight and metal packaging were separated for recycling in Austrian households in 2024, ARA projections show. The recycling rate for paper packaging in Austria stands at 80%, while metal packaging is recycled at 75%, glass at 86% and plastic packaging at 25%.

“By sorting packaging correctly into the right bin, people make a valuable contribution to resource conservation and climate protection,” said Harald Hauke, CEO of ARA. Hauke expects a significant increase in plastic packaging recycling next year, following the nationwide expansion of the joint collection programme for lightweight and metal packaging.

From January 2025, packaging items such as washing powder bottles, yoghurt pots, crisp cans, tin cans and aluminium trays will be collected together in the Yellow Bin or Yellow Sack across the country. However, plastic drink bottles and cans, which are part of a deposit system, will be excluded from this collection. Joint collection is already in place in Vienna, Lower Austria, Carinthia and Salzburg.

Here’s our refresher on how to separate your garbage in Vienna.