New system from 1.1.25

Put a deposit on it! These myths are being busted

A significant proportion of plastic waste is caused by plastic drinks bottles. This is now set to change.

(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

At the beginning of January 2025, a new deposit system will be introduced throughout Austria - with major changes for consumers, snack bars, supermarkets and waste collection centers. Krone+ took a look at seven myths surrounding the new single-use deposit system and debunked them.

It is an undisputed fact that plastic waste in particular has a huge impact on the environment. The oceans and their inhabitants are particularly affected. But what do we Austrians, as inhabitants of a landlocked country, have to do with it? Quite a lot: according to the Federal Environment Agency, around 40 million tons of plastic waste end up in the Black Sea every year via the Danube alone. A significant proportion of plastic waste is caused by plastic drinks bottles, but according to figures from waste associations, the collection rate here is only around 70 percent.

According to EU regulations, this must increase to 90% for beverage bottles by 2029. In order to achieve this, a new one-way deposit system will apply from January 1, 2025. A system that has already been successfully practiced in numerous other EU countries for years. Krone+ took a look at seven myths surrounding the single-use deposit system and shed some light on them: