Austria's Garbage Sorting: A Comprehensive Guide To Doing It Right

Austria is a leader in recycling, with one of the highest recycling rates in the world. The country's commitment to sustainability, protection of people and the environment, and conservation of natural resources is reflected in its waste management practices. Austrians take garbage sorting seriously, with separate bins for different waste streams found in almost every household. The Austrian Waste Management Act outlines key principles, and recycling is paid for through municipal taxes in each district. While there are slight variations across regions, this guide will help you understand the basics of sorting garbage in Austria.

Paper waste

Austria takes waste management very seriously, and recycling is a big part of Austrian culture. 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. Waste prevention is the top priority, and Austrians are encouraged to use reusable packaging instead of disposable packaging, repair or rent items instead of buying new ones, and pass on goods they no longer need.

Items that can be placed in the red paper bins include:

• Notebooks and exercise books (without the plastic cover)
• Catalogues (without the plastic envelope)
• Cardboard fruit trays
• Paper towels (clean)
• Paper carrier bags and packaging
• Corrugated cardboard

However, it is important to note that certain items should not be placed in the red paper bins. These include handkerchiefs, kitchen towels, contaminated or greasy paper, and any coated cardboard packaging such as milk cartons.

The paper packaging collected by ARA is recycled into new raw materials, which can be used in almost all types of paper products. Although the paper quality does deteriorate with each recycling cycle, paper fibres can be recycled around six times. Some types of packaging in Austria are made almost entirely of waste paper.

General waste

Austria's Waste Management Act lays out the main principles of Austrian waste management, which include sustainability, the protection of human beings and the environment, and the conservation of natural resources. Waste prevention is the top priority, and unavoidable waste should be sorted and sent for reuse, preparation, or recycling.

The Austrian government also has a blanket ban on certain types of waste going to landfill. This includes any product that has a total organic carbon emission rate of more than 5%. This ban effectively prevents any packaging from ending up in the soil.

Glass waste

In Vienna, there are over 2,500 public locations where glass is collected, as well as at the dung places in the city. However, as glass waste can be noisy, people are asked to only dispose of glass between 6 am and 10 pm.

When disposing of glass, it is important to separate clear and coloured glass. A single green bottle is enough to contaminate 500kg of clear glass. Additionally, make sure to remove any corks or lids from the glass containers before disposal.

In 2025, Austria will introduce a uniform 25-cent deposit on glass containers, which will be refunded when returning the container to supermarkets.

Lightweight packaging

In Austria, lightweight packaging is a distinct category of waste. It includes plastic bottles, metal cans, and Tetra Paks, and these should be placed in lightweight packaging bins, which are often grouped with glass bins.

Austria has a producer responsibility model, and the biggest company running this system is Altstoff Recycling Austria (ARA). They provide a pickup service for 1.6 million households, as well as public drop-off points for different types of recycling.

In Vienna, lightweight packaging is collected in yellow bags or bins along with wood, textiles, ceramics, and biodegradable material packaging. The packaging is then shredded, washed, dried, melted, and processed into new products.

In 2024, a new state-of-the-art sorting plant for lightweight packaging, named TriPlast, opened in Ennshafen, Upper Austria. The €65 million facility is a joint venture between ARA, Bernegger, and Der Grüne Punkt. With an annual sorting capacity of 100,000 tonnes of plastic and metal packaging, it claims to be Europe's most modern and Austria's largest sorting plant for lightweight packaging.

TriPlast is configured to handle a wide range of items, such as shampoo bottles, canisters, films, and components for the automotive and electrical industries. The technology includes 2.5 km of conveyor belt, 160 km of cable, 38 near-infrared devices, and three screening drums. With a hall height of 25 metres, it is one of the highest sorting plants in Europe, designed to ensure efficient material flow.

Bio-waste

In Austria, bio-waste, or organic waste

Frequently asked questions