Three months after the introduction of the one-way deposit system for plastic beverage bottles and metal cans in Austria, Recycling Pfand Österreich is reporting positive results: In the first three months, some 255 million deposit containers were put into circulation, of which 36 million were successfully returned. 80 percent of the population supports the deposit system. The goal is to put 2.2 billion bottles and cans back into circulation each year and to achieve a return rate of 80 percent in the first year, rising to 90 percent by 2027. New as of April 1, 2025: Producers may only fill and market containers with the Austrian deposit logo.
The launch of the one-way deposit system is off to a great start and has been well received by consumers," said Monika Fiala and Simon Parth, Managing Directors of Recycling Pfand Österreich. "The 36 million returned bottles and cans speak for themselves. Our deposit system works. We are taking a decisive step towards a sustainable recycling economy in Austria and against littering.
Consumers: Four to eight weeks from purchase to return of deposit containers
Since January 2025, approximately 255 million deposit containers have been in circulation, of which approximately 36 million bottles and cans have been returned. The difference between containers placed in circulation and those returned is not unusual: there are several steps between the initial placement on the market and the return of the cans and bottles.
"Since not every bottle or can is consumed immediately, not all containers are returned immediately after purchase. On average, we expect it will take four to eight weeks for consumers to return their empty one-way deposit containers," says Monika Fiala.
Throughout Austria, consumers have access to almost 13,000 return points, including more than 6,000 reverse vending machines, for example in supermarket branches. With one of the highest densities of supermarkets in Europe, Austria also has one of the highest densities of reverse vending machines.
