
Proper waste separation is a priority for most people living in Austria, a new survey has revealed.
The survey, conducted by marketagent.com on behalf of the Austrian Waste Management Association (VOEB) with 1,000 participants, found that 85% of respondents pay attention to disposing of their waste correctly.
In Vorarlberg and Tirol, the figure rises to 93%, according to a VOEB press release.
The survey also indicated that older respondents are more knowledgeable about waste separation. While 92% of those aged 60 to 78 are careful about disposing of their waste correctly, only 74% of those aged 14 to 30 do the same.
Younger individuals are significantly more likely to be uncertain about which waste should go into which bin, with only 24% of those under 30 feeling “very confident” about waste separation.
“Older people are more likely to have engaged with waste separation in their own households. Nevertheless, we need to better inform and motivate young people to separate their waste,” said Veronika Wüster, Managing Director of VOEB.
The VOEB is advocating for a nationwide “4-bin system” across Austria, which would require every household or residential building to have at least four waste categories: residual waste, paper, organic waste and a combined metal and plastic bin, with direct collection for each. “This system is already in place in many municipalities but remains far from universal, especially in urban areas,” Wüster noted.