Austria has two laws dealing with beverage container recycling. One, to insure the success of the refillables system, put a deposit on refillable bottles. The other set target recycling rates for beverage containers to be achieved by 2000.
1990 ORDER CONCERNING REFILLABLE PLASTIC BOTTLES
| Law Summary | Requires deposits on refillable PET bottles. (Non-refillable plastic containers are exempt.) |
| Date Implemented | August 7, 1990 |
| Containers Covered | Refillable PET bottles. |
| Beverages Covered |
Beverages in refillable PET bottles |
| Amount of Deposit |
40¢ deposit per PET container. |
| Fees and Taxes | Voluntary recycling fee of U.S. $0.02 - $0.08 on one-way containers |
| Program Success |
Refillable Containers comprise the following percentages of market share: Beer 95% Cans 60% |
Details
In July 2020, the Austrian Environment Ministry announced a deposit-return system on single use containers (plastic and metal) along with refillable containers. This is part of a greater 3-point plan which includes implementing legally-binding quotas for the percentage of containers that are refillable, and having plastic producers bear the cost of the newly introduced EU plastic tax. Environment minister Leonore Gewessler says they intend to require 25% of beverages to be sold in refillable containers by 2023, increasing to 40% in 2025 and 55% in 2030. [1]
1992 FEDERAL ORDER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GOALS FOR THE REDUCTION AND RECOVERY OF WASTE FROM BEVERAGE CONTAINER PACKAGING AND RELATED PACKAGING
| Law Summary | Sets recycling/reuse targets for beverage containers to be achieved by January 1, 2000. |
| Date Implemented | October 9, 1992 |
| Containers Covered | unknown |
| Beverages Covered |
The recycling target requirements apply to beer, soft drinks, mineral water, fruit juice and fruit drinks. |
Sources
[1] "Austria plans deposit for single-use beverage containers, quota for refillable bottles." Europäischer Wirtschaftsdienst GmbH, 9 July, 2020.