Einwegpfand in Österreich: Gestaltung und Herausforderungen im internationalen Vergleich

In the context of careless littering and inefficient collection and recycling of plastics, the European Commission issued a directive on reducing the impact of certain single-use plastic products on the environment, known as the Single-Use Plastics Directive. This directive was issued in 2019, which stipulates a separate collection rate of 77% from 2025 for single-use plastic drinks bottles and 90% from 2029. In October 2021, a broad majority of food retailers, beverage bottlers and other interest groups called for a comprehensive solution for both reusable and single-use deposits. Building on this, a draft of the Austrian Single-Use Deposit Ordinance was developed with input of numerous stakeholders from Austria’s waste management sector under the leadership of the Ministry of Climate Protection. The central question to be addressed, regarding how to design an “optimal” single-use deposit system for Austria, forms the framework for this article. Relevant design elements are briefly outlined, showing which options have been implemented in long-established European single-use deposit systems, what has been learned from these experiences, and how these lessons can influence the Austrian system. Additionally, the article explains new approaches in areas such as the visible consumer touchpoints, management of material flows, and the administration and financing of the single-use deposit system.