Disposable beverage packaging will be subject to deposit requirements from 2025
Austria will introduce the “Deposit regulation for disposable beverage packaging” from January 1, 2025. This follows the example of Germany, where a packaging law was passed several years ago that, among other things, regulates the deposit and return obligations for single-use beverage packaging.
mocca® system already ready for 2025
The good news first: You can already easily and legally record deposit bookings and deposit payments in the mocca® system. With ventopay, you can look forward to the new deposit regulations with confidence.
Deposit sales and deposit returns are each shown in the mocca® system via a separate article and are subject to a deposit of 25 cents.
Deposit items can be set as follow-on items to a main item, which means they are automatically added when booking. Manual booking of the deposit sales item is also possible. The number of deposit items booked can be evaluated at any time in the mocca® system’s reporting system.
When deposits are returned, the deposit return item can be easily booked using the button layout. All deposit items are shown on the receipt.
If bottles and cans are returned to a return machine, the deposit amount is paid out there using a voucher. If you wish, we are happy to integrate the practical redemption of these vouchers via barcode scan at the cash registers. Please contact our sales team!
Scope and exceptions
The deposit regulation regulates the deposit and return of disposable beverage packaging made of plastic and metal with a filling volume between 0.1 and 3 liters. However, the following packaging is exempt from the deposit requirement:
- Beverage bottles made of glass or metal with plastic closures or lids
- Beverage bottles for special medical purposes
- Beverage bottles for food for babies and small children
- Composite beverage cartons
- Packaging for milk and dairy products (for hygienic reasons)
“Central body” for the one-way deposit
EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH has been appointed as the “central body” and will take on all tasks related to the deposit on disposable packaging. This includes the implementation of the deposit regulation, the administration of the deposit regulations and the coordination of returns.
The deposit for disposable beverage packaging is a uniform 25 cents and is paid out to consumers when the packaging is returned. Final distributors receive a handling fee for taking back the packaging. A national deposit symbol will also be introduced to indicate the deposit requirement on the packaging in question.
Registration requirement for first-time distributors
Those who first place disposable beverage containers on the market must register themselves and the new container types they place on the market with the central body. A contract must be concluded and the registration costs must be paid.
Take-back obligation for final distributors
Final distributors are obliged to take back empty disposable packaging during normal business hours against payment of the deposit. A decision is made between automated and manual return:
With automated return using reverse vending machines, all containers with a deposit must be taken back. Manual return is only mandatory for containers that are also issued by the relevant final distributor in terms of packaging material and size. Furthermore, they only have to be taken back in the usual quantities.
Operators of hospitality establishments, where disposable beverage packaging is not usually taken away, do not have to collect and pay out a deposit from the consumer. They are also not obliged to take it back.
For sales from vending machines, a return option must be guaranteed within a reasonable distance or a compensation amount must be paid for each container.
According to the current status, operators must register on the EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH platform and report the number of bottles and cans sold on a monthly basis. With our reporting tool mocca.reporting+, you can automatically evaluate the quantity of items sold. Without any manual effort, you receive the sales data – number of bottles and cans sold at item level, per product group or per machine – that you need for the legally required report.
In shopping centers, shopping streets, airports or train stations, shared reverse vending machines can be placed for several sales outlets. It should be noted that each reverse vending machine must be accredited by the central body – accreditation already exists for several models.
Sources
https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/II/2023/283
https://www.wko.at/oe/industrie/die-neue-einwegpfandverordnung
https://www.recycling-pfand.at/downloads/rucknehmer-handbuch.pdf?1706088725
https://www.recycling-pfand.at/downloads/handling-fee-information.pdf?1706600318
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