For collectors

For collectors

No matter whether supermarket, bakery, tobacconist, snack bar, sausage stand or drinks outlet: From 2025, anyone who sells beverages in cans or single-use PET in Austria must also collect containers with few exceptions. The containers are collected either manually or using reverse vending machines.

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Who has to collect containers?

Who has to collect containers?

Anyone who sells beverages in cans or PET bottles to end consumers must also collect these containers and is thus a collector. The following exceptions/framework conditions apply:

  • Restaurants and small sales outlets only take back the quantities that they sell on average per purchase transaction.

  • Central collection points are permitted in railways stations, airports and shopping centres/streets.

Collection regulation for sales via vending machines and online retail

Special types of sales

1. Sales via vending machines: The final distributor does not have to collect the empty containers. Instead, a compensatory payment per container has to be paid (to Recycling Pfand Österreich). (The amount depends on the effort and costs involved in making the additional collections at other collection points). Exception: If a collection point can be shown to be in the immediate vicinity of the vending machine, and reference is clearly and visibly made to this fact, the compensatory payment may be waived.

2. Online retail:

  • If the online retailer delivers products itself (with its own delivery service): The final distributor has to ensure collection and reimbursement of the deposit at the time of delivery. The deposit can be disbursed using the same method that the order is paid for. The supplier only has to collect those deposit-paid drinks containers that are also offered (this depends on the material and fill volume, not on the brand) and only in the quantity that is normally ordered.
  • If the online retailer sends products via postal, parcel or freight services, the deposit per container must be levied, although the drinks containers do not have to be collected. A compensatory payment per container has to be paid (to Recycling Pfand Österreich). (The amount depends on the effort and costs involved in making the additional collections at other collection points).

3. Food deliveries: In the case of food deliveries from restaurants and their appointed third parties (= delivery services), the containers on which a deposit is levied do not have to be collected and the deposit does not have to be reimbursed. However, a compensatory payment does have to be paid by the final distributor = restaurant operator (to Recycling Pfand Österreich).

Registrierung als Rücknehmer

Registrierung als Rücknehmer
Registrierung als Rücknehmer

Who needs to register as a collector?

You must register as a collector

  • for paid deposits to be refunded, and/or
  • to order bags and seals in the system.

The registration process will be launched in the login area of this website from August 2024. Registration is successfully concluded when the collection agreement has also been signed. You will then be able to go online to order bags and seals for the collection process.

Exception: If the bottles and cans are returned directly at a reverse vending machine, no registration is required as the deposit will be reimbursed via the vending machine in the form of a voucher.

Return options

Collection using reverse vending machines

Collection using reverse vending machines

The unambiguous recording and compaction of the containers is done by reverse vending machines. Consumers receive a voucher that can be redeemed at the checkout.

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Manual collection

Manual collection

In the case of manual collection, consumers return the bottles and cans directly to small sales outlets (without vending machine support) and have their deposit reimbursed.

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Downloads

Rücknehmer-Handbuch

Rücknehmer Handbuch, per 3.12.2024

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Handling Fee Information

Handling Fee für Rücknahme mittels Automaten und manuelle Rücknahme.

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