Collection Systems in Austria 🇦🇹
About
Austria has a well-structured waste management system that separates materials based on type and recyclability. The system emphasizes the critical distinction between packaging and non-packaging items, with strict rules for each stream. From 2025, Austria unified plastic and metal packaging collection in the yellow system nationwide. Proper sorting is essential—some items are only collected in specific streams, while others must be taken to dedicated drop-off points. Here's a complete guide to what goes where.
Collection Streams
Yellow Bin / Yellow Bag (Gelbe Tonne / Gelber Sack) – Plastic & Metal Packaging
What goes in:
- Empty plastic packaging (rest-emptied): detergent/cosmetics bottles, food bottles (e.g., oil/vinegar), yoghurt cups, trays, films, plastic bags
- Metal packaging: food cans, pet food cans, metal foil, metal tubes, crown caps, metal lids/screw caps
- Composite packaging: beverage cartons (drink cartons / Tetra Pak)
What does NOT go in:
- Non-packaging plastics/metals: toothbrushes, toys, plastic razors, pipes/hoses, cookware, tools
- Packaging with contents (not emptied)
- Hazardous containers with contents (e.g., paint/spray/oil cans with leftover contents)
- Large/bulky items (including large metal pieces, oversized canisters)
Notes:
- Nationwide rule: yellow is for packaging only (not 'all plastic')
- From 2025, Austria collects plastic + metal packaging together in the yellow system; some places phased out separate metal bins gradually
- Packaging should be empty; flatten to save space
- Paint/spray cans are only ok if completely empty; with contents → hazardous collection
Single-Use Deposit Return (Einwegpfand)
What goes in:
- Single-use beverage containers with Austrian deposit logo (packaging): PET bottles and metal beverage cans, 0.1–3.0 L
- Deposit refund: €0.25 per container
What does NOT go in:
- Excluded from deposit: drink cartons (Tetra Pak), many glass bottles, milk/milk-mix drinks, syrups (and other listed exemptions)
- No logo / not in scope → not refundable as deposit item
Notes:
- For deposit refund: container must be empty, not crushed, and label/barcode must be readable
- If a container is rejected by the system, dispose of it via yellow (no deposit refund)
Scrap Metal / Non-Packaging Metal
What goes in:
- Metal objects like tools, pipes/wire, cookware, larger metal parts (e.g., bikes, gutters, bathtubs) (non-packaging) via ASZ/Recyclinghof/Mistplatz
What does NOT go in:
- Not in yellow (yellow is for metal packaging only)
Notes:
- The national 'metal packaging' guidance explicitly separates metal packaging → yellow from metal objects → recycling centre / municipal drop-off
Residual Waste (Restmüll / Restabfall)
What goes in:
- Items that cannot be recycled separately, are not hazardous, and are not bulky: hygiene waste like diapers, sanitary products (non-packaging); used tissues / kitchen roll (non-packaging); vacuum cleaner bags, cold ash, cat litter (non-packaging); broken dishes/ceramics (non-packaging)
What does NOT go in:
- Any separately collected recyclables (paper, glass, bio, yellow packaging)
- Hazardous waste / chemicals (non-packaging)
- Bulky waste (large items)
- Electrical items (WEEE)
Notes:
- 'Restmüll' is essentially the leftover fraction
- Vienna summarises it as waste that is free of hazardous contents and not bulky; everything else should go to the relevant collection stream / drop-off point
Paper & Cardboard (Altpapier / Paper Bin)
What goes in:
- Clean, dry paper (non-packaging): newspapers, magazines, books, notebooks, writing paper
- Clean paper packaging (packaging): uncoated cardboard boxes, cartons, paper bags
What does NOT go in:
- Greasy/dirty paper (e.g., very greasy pizza boxes)
- Composite cartons like milk/juice drink cartons (Tetra Pak)
- Tissues, paper towels, wet wipes (non-packaging)
- Coated cartons (often not accepted in paper)
Notes:
- Remove plastic sleeves/films or styrofoam from paper packaging before putting paper in the bin
- Fold/flatten large boxes
- Drink cartons belong with yellow packaging, not paper
Household Hazardous Waste (Problemstoffe)
What goes in:
- Hazardous household items (mostly non-packaging): medications, motor oil, batteries, energy-saving lamps, paints/varnishes/solvents, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, gas cylinders/cartridges with contents, unknown chemicals, syringes (properly contained)
What does NOT go in:
- Never in residual, yellow, paper, glass, bio, and never down the drain/toilet
Notes:
- Collected at problem waste collection points / municipal drop-off
- Important nuance: paint/spray/oil cans with contents must go here (not in metal/yellow)
- Retailers must take back device batteries they sell (free of charge, no purchase required)
Glass Packaging (Altglas: Weißglas & Buntglas)
What goes in:
- Empty glass packaging (packaging): Clear (Weißglas): clear one-way bottles, jars, flacons
- Coloured (Buntglas): all coloured / even slightly tinted glass packaging
What does NOT go in:
- Not packaging glass: drinking glasses, ovenproof glass, window/flat glass, mirrors, ceramics/porcelain (all non-packaging)
- Metal screw caps/lids (packaging) - these go in yellow stream
Notes:
- Only packaging glass is collected in glass containers
- Metal lids/screw caps go in the yellow stream, not with glass
- Many areas ask you to use glass containers only during daytime to reduce noise (e.g., 7–20)
Electrical & Electronic Waste (WEEE)
What goes in:
- Small and large electrical devices + energy-saving lamps to collection points (Mistplatz/Recyclinghof/Abfallzentrum) and often take-back where purchased
What does NOT go in:
- Not in residual; don't leave next to collection bins
Notes:
- ARA guidance: bring electrical devices and energy-saving lamps to the appropriate municipal collection point; do not put in residual
Bulky Waste (Sperrmüll)
What goes in:
- Large household items that don't fit bins (non-packaging), typically handled via municipal drop-off (Mistplatz/Recyclinghof/ASZ) or booked collection
What does NOT go in:
- Not for regular bins; hazardous items go separately
Notes:
- National guidance: disposal is municipality/province dependent; typically drop-off at Mistplatz/Recyclinghof/Altstoffsammelzentrum or via municipal bulky collection (often by appointment and usually fee-based)
Bio-Waste / Organics (Bioabfall / Biotonne or Home Composting)
What goes in:
- Typical plant-based kitchen + garden waste (non-packaging): fruit & veg scraps, plant-based leftovers, bread; old potting soil & houseplants; grass/leaves/shrub cuttings; garden trimmings
What does NOT go in:
- Plastic bags and packaging of any kind
- Meat/bones/animal leftovers: rules vary (some regions accept, others don't)
Notes:
- Austria explicitly notes that animal-based biowaste (meat, bones, etc.) is collected differently regionally; check your municipality
- Guidance says to throw bio-waste into the biobin without plastic bags (and, if possible, avoid paper/compostable plastic bags too)
- Vienna is given as an example where animal waste is not suitable for the biobin
Batteries
What goes in:
- Portable/device batteries & rechargeable batteries: collection boxes in retail; larger batteries often to municipal collection points
What does NOT go in:
- Not in residual (fire risk), not in yellow
Notes:
- Government portal: any shop selling device batteries must accept used ones free of charge
- ARA additionally recommends taping terminals on lithium batteries to prevent short circuits
Used Cooking Oil
What goes in:
- Typically accepted at recycling centres / civic amenity sites where offered
What does NOT go in:
- Check local acceptance list
Notes:
- Check local acceptance list for availability
What Gets Collected
Accepted Items
- • Packaging materials (varies by stream)
- • Empty and clean containers
- • Material-specific items
Not Accepted
- • Non-packaging items
- • Contaminated materials
- • Hazardous containers with contents
Regional Variations
Collection systems in Austria may vary by municipality or region. Local sorting capabilities, collection infrastructure, and acceptance criteria can differ significantly even within the same country.
Important Notes
The packaging vs. non-packaging distinction is critical in Austria—yellow bins accept only packaging, not all plastics or metals. Non-packaging items must go to recycling centres or other designated streams.
From 2025, Austria unified plastic and metal packaging collection in the yellow system nationwide, though some areas phased this in earlier.
Empty and clean requirements are strictly enforced—packaging must be rest-emptied, and paint/spray cans with any contents must go to hazardous waste, not yellow bins.
Regional variations exist for bio-waste (especially regarding animal-based waste) and some collection routes—always check your municipality's specific guidelines.
Austria's deposit return system (Einwegpfand) covers PET bottles and metal beverage cans (0.1–3.0 L) with a €0.25 deposit. Containers must be empty, uncrushed, and have readable labels/barcodes for refund.
Sources
Collection system information is based on national and regional guidelines. For the most current and location-specific information, consult local waste management authorities.