Living in Austria

Recycling and Waste Management

Recycling and waste separation play an important role in Austria. The Austrian Waste Management Act lays down the most important principles, such as sustainability, protection of people and the environment and the conservation of natural resources.

Overview

Waste prevention has top priority. The measures include using reusable packaging instead of disposable packaging, repairing or renting instead of buying new packaging and passing on goods that are no longer needed. Most glass, plastics, metals, waste paper and organic waste can be recycled or processed.

Depending on the federal state, there are different systems and colours of waste containers. In Vienna, for example, there is a well-organised, colour-coded recycling bin system that applies to both street bins and householdsboth street bins and households (). Throughout Austria, a disposable deposit must be paid for all closed plastic or metal beverage containers with a capacity of 0.1 to 3 liters. Products subject to a disposable deposit are marked with the Austrian deposit logo. The deposit is 25 cents per container. Containers can be returned via machines in supermarkets or at manual collection points.

Practical Links for Recycling

ara.at

The ARA Recycling Guide is very practical, it tells you exactly what you can dispose of and where.

muellapp.com

With the rubbish app, you can bring your personal rubbish calendar to your mobile phone or mailbox.

recycling-pfand.at

Detailed information on containers deposit can be found here.

Recycling by material

Recycling paper

Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA) is Austria's leading collection and recycling system for packaging. In 2023 alone, the company collected over 1 million tonnes of packaging and waste paper. Interestingly, households account for a third of this with industry and business making up the other two-thirds. The red bins are either placed directly at the households or at designated public places in the cities.
Recycling plastic

All plastic and other lightweight packaging, such as fruit trays, yogurt cups, or bubble wrap, are collected together in the yellow bin or yellow bag. Disposable beverage containers with a deposit logo can be returned to vending machines in supermarkets or manual collection points for a 25-cent deposit per container.

Recycling glass

Clear and coloured glass is collected separately. Separation is very important, as a single green bottle is enough to contaminate 500kg of clear glass.
Recycling Metal

Metal packaging can be collected together with plastic and other lightweight packaging in the yellow bin or yellow bag. As an alternative to the yellow bag, metal packaging such as tin cans, beverage cartons, large plastic sheets, buckets, and canisters (>5 liters) can still be brought to the recycling center. Beverage cans with a deposit logo can be returned uncrushed to deposit machines in stores or at manual collection points for a 25-cent deposit.

Recycling clothes and clothing material

There are several large clothing aid organisations in Austria that accept donations. The containers are usually located at central waste collection points or in municipal depots.

repanet.at

More information on recycling textile.

caritas-wien.at

Further information on clothes and textiles.

Waste-App

Uniquely, Austria has a free mobile app called MüllappMüllapp () (TrashApp) which helps with garbage collection. The app covers several Austrian cities with its useful services. For example, users can organize their own garbage collection and the app will remind them to put their bins outside on the chosen day. It also provides updates from the city council as well as information about where to find nearby containers. The app also tells you where to dispose of old clothes and provides details of other specific waste management sites.