The Austrians are hardworking waste sorters. Around 1,080,100 tons of packaging and waste paper were collected separately in domestic households this year. Despite the pandemic, the result is minus one percent, just below the record result from the previous year. With 257,400 tonnes of glass, an increase of 3.8 percent is recorded, summarized waste recycling Austria (ARA) in a broadcast on Stefanitag.
The metal segment also grew – here the collection result is 30,900 tons (plus 1.7 percent). The area of light packaging (mainly plastic packaging) grew to 179,800 tons, which is an increase of one percent. This plus is due, among other things, to the collective changeover in Vienna, with the joint collection of plastic bottles, beverage cartons and metal packaging.
In line with the trend of recent years, the decline in recovered paper continues: At 612,000 tons, paper and print products recorded a decline of 3.8 percent. This decrease affects newspapers and magazines and is due to the increased use of digital media. In contrast, packaging made of cardboard is increasing as a result of online trading.
“It cannot be taken for granted that the collection balance for this special year is so positive. Together with the strong commitment of the population to separate collection, we ensure that valuable raw materials are returned to the cycle. This strengthens the local economy and is an important contribution for active climate protection “, declared ARA board members Christoph Scharff and Harald Hauke. Disposal security was always guaranteed even in times of crisis, according to the two, and jobs in the industry were largely retained.
