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Deposit chaos in Vienna: queues and frustration at machines!
Long waiting times at deposit machines in Vienna-Margareten cause trouble. Users report problems and suggestions for improvements.
Deposit chaos in Vienna: queues and frustration at machines!
The return of deposit bottles is increasingly causing resentment in Vienna, especially at the vending machines, which often do not work properly. Claudia S. reports on her frustrating experiences in a supermarket in Vienna-Margareten: Long waiting times at the deposit machines make the deposit system anything but user-friendly. In response to the problems, she decided to switch to a soda stream to avoid deposit bottles. Many other readers also criticize and report similar experiences.
An anonymous reader shares his story from a McDonald's where he was forced to pay a deposit for an apple juice, only to throw the bottle away because he didn't want to wait in line again. Another reader who calls himself “Südwind” says that he buys beer cans because they are easier to handle, but he also has problems with machines that do not accept the cans.
The problem of defective machines
Gerlinde S. from Vienna-Leopoldstadt has completely stopped returning empties. She criticizes the frequent malfunctions of the machines and criticizes the need to wash yoghurt jars before they can be dispensed from a machine. In their opinion, this is a hidden increase in the price that prevents many from returning them. To improve the system, she suggests setting up a deposit bottle collection system, where someone picks up the bottles and keeps the deposit. In your opinion, many bottles end up in the trash anyway.
However, the situation could soon change: From January 1, 2024, the deposit requirement will be extended to milk and mixed milk drinks that have at least 50% milk content, as well as other drinkable milk products. This regulation affects disposable plastic bottles with a filling volume of 0.1 to 3 liters and is strictly enforced by the legislature. Manufacturers are obliged to charge a deposit of at least 0.25 euros per packaging and all distributors must collect this until it is handed over to the end consumer.
New deposit system from 2024
It is particularly important that beverage packaging must be clearly marked as requiring a deposit. From 2024, it will no longer be permitted to offer the above-mentioned milk products without a deposit. Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH (DPG) is integrating these new products into its take-back and deposit system so that consumers can also get their deposit back on dairy products in the future. However, a change without transitional regulations means that manufacturers who have put their products into circulation by the end of 2023 must ensure that they do not bear the DPG deposit logo.
The aim of expanding the deposit requirement is not only to return more packaging to the recycling cycle, but also to use the raw materials for dairy products sustainably. If companies do not take the right measures, they face fines from the relevant federal states.
What the situation will look like in the coming months remains to be seen. But the voices of consumers are loud and the hope that the deposit system will become more user-friendly grows with every new regulation.