At a glance

ItemAs of 15 October 2026
Legal basisDeposit Ordinance for Single-Use Beverage Packaging (Pfandverordnung für Einweggetränkeverpackungen), BGBl. II Nr. 283/2023, and § 14c of the Austrian Waste Management Act 2002 (Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz 2002, AWG 2002)[1][2]
In force since1 January 2025; since 1 January 2026, goods without the deposit logo may no longer be sold[1][14]
Deposit€0.25 per container, not subject to VAT[1][19]
Coveredclosed single-use plastic bottles and metal cans of 0.1 to 3.0 litres; legally also metal beverage bottles[1]
Central bodyEWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH, registration via the EWP portal[5]
Producer contribution 2026€0.0245 per plastic bottle, €0.0107 per metal can, net[7]
Return by consumersempty, not crushed, deposit logo and barcode legible; in shops via reverse vending machine or manually[4]
Collection rate81.5% in 2025; target 90% from 2027[15][1]
Without registrationno sales; infringements are administrative offences (Verwaltungsübertretungen) under § 79 Abs. 2 AWG 2002[6][2]

What the single-use deposit (Einwegpfand) covers

The buyer pays 25 cents per container and gets it back on return. The deposit does not belong to the seller: each trade level collects it in the name and for the account of the central body[1]. Three terms carry the system:

  • **First placer on the market (Erstinverkehrsetzer)**: the company that is the first to place the deposit containers on the market in Austria, i.e. the primary obligated party under § 13g AWG 2002; for contract filling, the client who commissions it[1][3]. Example: the brewery that fills in Austria, or the importer of energy drinks from Germany.
  • **Primary obligated party (Primärverpflichteter)**: the Austrian term for the party responsible under extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging, such as a packer or importer based in Austria or a foreign distance seller to private customers[3].
  • **Final distributor (Letztvertreiber)**: whoever sells to consumers, such as a supermarket, petrol station or online shop. They take back empty containers and pay out the deposit[1].

Deposit containers are exempt from participation in a collection and recovery scheme, colloquially called licensing[3][21]. For the bottle, label, closure and lid you instead pay the producer contribution to EWP[7]. Trays, shrink film or shipping boxes are not deposit containers and still require licensing; see the guide to the packaging licence.

Which beverage packaging is covered

PackagingDepositBasis
Single-use plastic bottle, 0.1 to 3.0 litres, including water, juice, beer, plant-based drinksyes§ 3 Z 2, § 4 Deposit Ordinance[1][6]
Beverage can or metal bottle, 0.1 to 3.0 litresyes§ 3 Z 3, § 4 Deposit Ordinance[1]
Glass bottle with plastic closureno§ 3 Z 2 lit. a[1]
Beverage cartonno§ 3 Z 2 lit. c[1]
Milk and milk products (according to EWP, from 51% milk content)no§ 4 Abs. 3[1][6]
Infant food, food for special medical purposesno§ 3 Z 2 lit. b[1]
Syrupsno, not intended for direct consumptionauthority and EWP[4][6]
Reusable glass bottles and beer cratesnot part of the single-use depositseparate deposit on reusables[6]

Who must do what

Your obligations depend on whether you bring beverages into Austria for the first time, resell them or supply them to consumers:

Your situationYour roleWhat you do
You fill in Austria or have beverages filled under your brandFirst placer on the marketregister, mark, report and pay monthly[1][11]
You import beverages into Austria and sell them thereImporter, and therefore first placer on the marketas above; for small quantities, stickers instead of a new label[14][13]
Your brand from Germany supplies an Austrian retaileryour choice: your customer becomes the first placer on the market, or you remain it through an authorised representative (only if based in the EU/EEA)agree in the contract who registers and pays[10]
You sell online from abroad to private customers in AustriaFirst placer on the marketappoint an authorised representative who registers and pays for you[10]
You sell to consumers in a shopFinal distributorcollect the deposit, take back containers, pay out the deposit; EWP refunds the deposit and pays a handling fee[1][8]
You ship beverages by post or parcel serviceFinal distributor without take-back obligationcollect the deposit, register with EWP, pay the compensation contribution[1][9]
You deliver with your own delivery serviceFinal distributorensure take-back and deposit refund on delivery[1][9]
Hospitality, beverages stay on the premisesFinal distributorno deposit and no take-back for containers that stay on site[1]
Vending machineFinal distributorcompensation contribution, unless there is a return point within 300 metres with an agreement[1][9]
Wholesale to resellers onlyDistributorpass on the deposit; no take-back towards consumers[6]

Delivery terms and customs documents show who imports, but they are not proof of the role. If in doubt, set the role down in writing with your customer. For goods from foreign suppliers, check whether the containers bear the Austrian deposit symbol; if it is missing, you are the importer yourself, with all obligations[14].

Registration with EWP step by step

  • Create a user account: the key user enters the company profile with the company register (Firmenbuch) number or VAT ID (UID) number; login uses two-factor verification[17].
  • Choose a role and sign the contracts: first placer contract, logo use agreement, SEPA direct debit mandate and, for international GTINs, a supplementary agreement[17][12].
  • Create every product: enter the material of container, lid and label, dimensions, filling volume, weight, colour and new barcode, and upload the label layout as a PDF[1][12].
  • Send in samples and wait for approval: EWP checks the layout and suitability for reverse vending machines; this takes up to 6 weeks from receipt of the samples, longer if corrections are needed[12].
  • Report and pay on an ongoing basis: collect the deposit as a separate invoice item and report quantities per barcode by the 5th of the following month; EWP invoices on the 10th and debits on the 20th. You report the recycled material used in the previous year by 15 March[11][19].

Without a registered office in Austria, an authorised representative takes over these steps. They first register in the ministry's Electronic Data Management (Elektronisches Datenmanagement, EDM) and file the power of attorney there; only then is registration in the EWP portal possible[10]. The guide to the EDM portal explains how this works.

The deposit symbol appears once above the barcode, black on white, at least 10 x 11.7 mm in size, with a 2 mm quiet zone[12][20]. Every deposit product needs a new barcode (GTIN) that distinguishes it from goods without a deposit[6][20]. If the same container with the same GTIN is also sold abroad, you register it as an international GTIN. EWP charges €0.03 per container for this, for Austrian producers on the quantity sold abroad, for importers on the quantity sold in Austria; in the relevant foreign countries (relevantes Ausland), at most 500,000 units per year and GTIN are permitted[12][16].

For imported goods and small batches, EWP allows stickers instead of a new label. They come only from approved printers, carry the deposit symbol, GTIN and Data Matrix code, and are activated via the portal[13].

Money flows and costs

ItemAmountWho pays whom
Deposit€0.25 per containereach trade level to the previous one; the first placer on the market to EWP[1][11]
Producer contribution 2026€0.0245 plastic, €0.0107 metal, plus VATfirst placer on the market to EWP[7][19]
Eco-modulationsurcharge based on recyclability; in EWP's sample calculation, 10% in performance class Cfirst placer on the market to EWP[19][15]
Registration feeone-off per container type; amount not published in the EWP documents reviewedfirst placer on the market to EWP[1][6]
International GTIN fee€0.03 per containerfirst placer on the market to EWP[12]
Compensation contribution€0.038 per container (information sheet as of October 2025)parcel shipping, vending machines, food delivery to EWP[9]
Handling fee 2026machine €0.0365 plastic, €0.0341 metal; manual €0.0384 and €0.0312EWP to registered take-back points[8]

Worked example with assumed quantities: an importer places 100,000 plastic bottles on the market in one month. They collect €25,000 in deposits and pay it over to EWP. Their costs are €2,450 in producer contribution, net (100,000 x €0.0245), plus a €245 surcharge in performance class C[7][19].

Consequences of missing registration

Deposit containers that are not registered or not marked with the deposit symbol may not be sold or given away in Austria[6][14]. An infringement of the Deposit Ordinance is an administrative offence (Verwaltungsübertretung) under § 79 Abs. 2 Z 1 AWG 2002; the same applies under § 79 Abs. 2 Z 2a if a foreign distance seller does not appoint an authorised representative[2]. Product registration is also the precondition for reverse vending machines and manual return points to recognise the container[5].

Deadlines and timeline

DateWhatStatus
25 September 2023Deposit Ordinance published in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt)done[1]
1 January 2025deposit obligation beginsin force[1]
31 March 2025last filling day for goods without logo and without depositexpired[1][6]
31 December 2025end of the sell-off of goods without logoexpired[1][14]
1 January 2026only registered and marked products on sale; deposit for stickered goods paid monthly instead of in advancein force[6][13][14]
from 2027collection target 90%set[1]

Austria and Germany compared

ItemAustriaGermany
Legal basisDeposit Ordinance, § 14c AWG 2002[1][2]§ 46 VerpackDG (Packaging Law Implementation Act)[18]
Deposit amount€0.25, not subject to VAT[1][19]at least €0.25 including VAT[18]
Materialsplastic and metal[1]also single-use glass and other material types[18]
Milk drinksexempt[1]subject to deposit in plastic bottles and cans[18]
Return in the other countrynot possible[6]not possible[6]

A container from the German deposit system cannot be returned for a deposit in Austria, and vice versa[6]. The guide to the German Packaging Act and VerpackDG explains the German deposit obligation.

Common mistakes

  • Delivering goods with the German deposit logo to Austria. Solution: an Austrian container or an EWP sticker[6][13].
  • Registering products only after deliveries have started. Solution: start registration with samples at least 6 weeks beforehand[12].
  • Unclear who the first placer on the market is. Solution: set the role in the supply contract so that it is never the case that nobody pays or that both pay[10].
  • Online shop without registration. Solution: register in the EWP portal and pay the compensation contribution, even if your own physical shop takes containers back[9].

For companies from Germany and abroad

A German beverage producer has three routes into Austria[10]:

  • **Own company in Austria**: it becomes the first placer on the market.
  • **Importer or distributor**: they become the first placer on the market and register the products.
  • **Authorised representative**: you remain the first placer on the market; an authorised representative based in Austria fulfils your obligations in your name. This route is open only to companies from the EU and EEA.

If you sell online directly to private customers in Austria, an authorised representative is mandatory, including for companies from third countries such as Switzerland[10][2]. Each company has only one authorised representative for packaging and deposit; existing powers of attorney for packaging, electrical equipment or batteries also apply to the deposit[10]. For the other packaging in your shipments you still need Austrian licensing; see Selling to Austria. The guide to extended producer responsibility (EPR) explains how these obligations fit into it. In its digital needs analysis, ClearoSystems sets out which obligations apply per product, role, sales channel and country, currently for companies whose home market is Austria, the Netherlands or Switzerland, with Germany to follow; we then support you with registration, reports and the appointment of an authorised representative.

Status and changes

As of 16 October 2026. On this day we checked the Deposit Ordinance in the RIS, Austria's federal legal information system (original version BGBl. II Nr. 283/2023, no amendment published), §§ 12b, 13g, 14c and 79 AWG 2002 (last amended by BGBl. I Nr. 84/2024), § 6a of the Packaging Ordinance 2014 (Verpackungsverordnung 2014), EWP's company pages, FAQ and information sheets, and § 46 VerpackDG[1][2][3][21][5][18]. The compensation contribution comes from an information sheet of October 2025; EWP reassesses it every year[9]. Changes: 15 October 2026, first version; 16 October 2026, technical clarifications after expert review (containers covered). Translated from the German version of 16 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

As a German producer, do I have to use the EWP portal myself if I only supply an Austrian wholesaler?
Not necessarily. If your customer becomes the first placer on the market, they register the products and pay the deposit and producer contribution. Through an authorised representative you can keep the role yourself, for example if you supply several retailers with the same barcode. Set out the arrangement in writing before the first delivery.
Does the deposit also apply to beverages I give away as samples or promotional gifts?
Yes. Sponsoring, samples, promotional goods and staff drinks count as placed on the market and are reported. The only exceptions are laboratory samples that do not reach the market and goods whose destruction is documented.
Does my online shop have to take back empty bottles?
Only if you deliver with your own delivery service; you then take back the containers on delivery and may refund the deposit via the same payment method. When you ship by post or parcel service, there is no take-back; instead you pay the compensation contribution. It does not apply to click and collect in a shop.
Can I return Austrian deposit bottles in Germany?
No. Austrian deposit containers are refunded only in Austria, German ones only in Germany. In Austria, containers without the Austrian deposit logo belong in the plastic and metal collection.
What happens to remaining stock without a deposit logo?
Since 1 January 2026, it may be neither sold nor given away in Austria. The options are marking with approved stickers after registration, sale outside Austria, or documented destruction.
I export deposit goods bought in Austria. Do I get the deposit back?
Yes, through EWP's export scheme: registration as an exporter, contract, proof of export. For the relevant foreign countries, the deposit is refunded minus a 3-cent export fee, for at most 500,000 units per product and year without separate approval.

Sources

  1. [1]RIS: Pfandverordnung für Einweggetränkeverpackungen, BGBl. II Nr. 283/2023, konsolidierte Fassung (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  2. [2]RIS: Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz 2002 (AWG 2002), konsolidierte Fassung, §§ 12b, 14c, 79 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  3. [3]RIS: § 13g AWG 2002, Pflichten für Primärverpflichtete von Verpackungen (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  4. [4]oesterreich.gv.at: Einwegpfandsystem (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  5. [5]Recycling Pfand Österreich: Für Unternehmen (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  6. [6]Recycling Pfand Österreich: Häufige Fragen (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  7. [7]EWP: Infoblatt Produzentenbeitrag 2026, Stand Dezember 2025 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  8. [8]EWP: Infoblatt Handling Fee 2026, Stand Juni 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  9. [9]EWP: Infoblatt Der Ausgleichsbeitrag, Stand Oktober 2025 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  10. [10]EWP: Erstinverkehrsetzung als ausländisches Unternehmen (Bevollmächtigter), Stand Oktober 2024 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  11. [11]EWP: Übersicht über die Pflichten von Erstinverkehrsetzern, Stand März 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  12. [12]EWP: Produzenten-Handbuch, Version 5, Mai 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  13. [13]EWP: Infoblatt Sticker 2026, Stand August 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  14. [14]EWP: Infoblatt Import von Getränken, Stand Januar 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  15. [15]EWP: Das österreichische Einweg-Pfandsystem – Die Jahresbilanz 2025 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  16. [16]EWP: Vertrieb von Getränken in Österreich und im Ausland, Stand Februar 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  17. [17]EWP: Registrierung für Erstinverkehrsetzer im EWP-Portal (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  18. [18]§ 46 VerpackDG: Pfand- und Rücknahmepflichten für Einweggetränkeverpackungen (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  19. [19]EWP: Information zur EWP-Verrechnung und umsatzsteuerlichen Behandlung (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  20. [20]EWP: Infoblatt Produktregistrierung, Stand Februar 2026 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
  21. [21]RIS: Verpackungsverordnung 2014, konsolidierte Fassung, § 6a (accessed 15 Oct 2026)