Around one million plastic bottles and metal cans have already been returned since the introduction of a standard 25-cent deposit, or Pfand, on 1 January, according to Recycling Pfand Österreich.
By the end of the month, an estimated 25 million deposit-marked containers were in circulation.
Monika Fiala and Simon Parth, managing directors of Recycling Pfand Österreich, said they expected a sharp increase in the coming months. “We reckon that from March onwards, a significant number of deposit-bearing beverage containers will be in circulation,” they said.
A Year of Transition
The year 2025 will serve as a transition period, with both deposit and non-deposit containers remaining in circulation. Shops will still be allowed to sell packaging without a deposit label if it was produced before 31 March 2025.
“The aim of this transition period is to use up old packaging and labels as much as possible, rather than having to dispose of them, which helps conserve resources,” a statement from Recycling Pfand Österreich said.
Public Support
Consumers are currently seeing a limited number of deposit-marked containers in shops, but these are expected to become more widespread in the coming months.
A recent survey by marketagent, commissioned by Recycling Pfand Österreich, suggests strong public support for the scheme. “According to the findings, 80% of people in Austria support the system,” the organisation said.
Environmental benefits were cited as a key reason, with 68% of respondents believing it would cut down on littering. A further 66% welcomed the fact that used beverage containers could be turned into new packaging, keeping materials in circulation.
More Than 11,000 Return Points
At present, almost 1,500 products are registered under the scheme, covering around 98% of the annual volume placed on the market.
Across Austria, consumers have access to more than 11,400 return points, including 6,000 reverse vending machines. Recycling Pfand Österreich said: “With one of the highest supermarket densities in Europe, Austria also has one of the highest densities of return machines.”
If you need a reminder on how to return your bottles and cans, here’s our guide.
