The climate protection ministry is promoting the switch to reusable bottles and one-way deposits on plastic bottles and cans with 110 million euros. With the planned deposit system, small retailers will be reimbursed 100 percent of the costs for the return machine, as Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler announced yesterday.
As reported, the new Waste Management Act stipulates that from 2025 a deposit will be due when buying one-way beverage packaging, which customers will get back as soon as they return the packaging. As early as 2024, there will be a binding reusable quota in supermarkets with an area of more than 400 square meters. From then on there should be refillable beverage containers – not only for beer, but also for juices, mineral water or milk.
Gewessler described the project, the implementation of which required a great deal of persuasion and discussions, as a “milestone”. Over 900,000 tons of plastic waste are produced in Austria every year. Around 50,000 tons of it are just beverage packaging. She rejected the criticism from environmental organizations that the new regulations came too late. This time is necessary to build the required systems and set up the machines.
The exact framework conditions will be worked out in 2022. You have to give the dealers the time they need to switch. In the case of reusable filling systems and washing systems, for example, the logistics would have to be built up and converted. In the case of a deposit, the supermarkets have to convert and partially remodel internally. At present, a large number of supermarkets have no infrastructure at all for taking back.
The smaller, the more money
It is important to support the dealers. Investments in filling and washing systems for returnable containers are supported with funding rates of 40 to 60 percent. Smaller companies get higher funding rates.
The size of the company also plays a role in the return machines for PET bottles and metal cans. Because smaller dealers get reimbursed 100 percent of the costs for the return machine. Larger companies receive 40 to 60 percent funding. Markets with less than 400 square meters are excluded.
Source: Nachrichten
