Glass recycling in Austria
Glass packaging that is not reused directly – such as many beverage bottles in Austrian return systems – should always be placed in a collection container and not in the general waste. This is because, in terms of volume, recycled glass packaging is the most important resource for the manufacture of new glass products. Accordingly, the collection and processing of glass for recycling has a decades-long tradition in Austria – the first pilot projects were launched as early as 1976.
In Austria, around 250,000 tonnes of glass packaging are collected and sent for recycling every year. According to the organisation in charge of this achievement, Austria Glas Recycling (AGR), this saves a considerable amount of other raw materials year after year. Since 1977, the total amount of collected glass has reached 8 million tonnes, which corresponds to around 25 billion glass containers. The national glass recycling system is considered a best practice example in the European Union: Austria has already achieved the recycling rate goal set for 2030.
Pioneer in Europe
Austria Glas Recycling is one of the pioneers of successful glass recycling in Austria. The non-profit company operates the largest collection and recycling system for glass packaging in Austria. Like other Austrian recyclers, it organises the collection of used glass packaging from private households and businesses and ensures that the collected material is returned to the glass manufacturing industry. Vetropack purchases the untreated collected glass, processes it and then uses it as a resource for glass production.
Glass packaging in Austria is mostly collected in publicly accessible, space-saving double-chamber containers – a system, that has been established for many years now. Where possible, consumers should sort and dispose of glass by colour so it can be turned back into an environmentally friendly resource.
The collection itself is also as low-emission as possible: around two-thirds of glass collected for recycling in Austria is transported by train. Where this is not possible, recycling companies use truck classes with less environmental impact, continuously optimise their collection routes, and use renewable fuels with less carbon emissions instead of diesel. In addition, drivers of these trucks are offered trainings on eco-driving and how to save fuel.
The total amount of glass collected has been growing steadily for many years. However, trucks are driving less to transport it. In 2012, around 89.5 kilograms of glass were collected per kilometre. By 2022, this figure had already risen to around 103 kilograms – an efficiency increase of around 15 percent, saving around 1.4 million litres of diesel. At the same time, fine dust emissions caused by collection in 2022 were reduced by 85 percent and carbon monoxide emissions by 56 percent compared to 2012.
Glass recycling at Vetropack
After collection, the work of processing glass for recycling can begin: The untreated glass delivered to Vetropack in Kremsmünster or Pöchlarn undergoes a series of processing steps. it is first sorted by hand, then crushed into cullet in glass breakers and finally sorted further and freed from foreign objects and unwanted colours using a variety of methods. This involves the use of optical and magnetic processes as well as eddy current separators. After the cullet has been dried to remove label residues, any foreign matter that is lighter than glass, such as labels or plastic caps, is separated by means of air separation and suction. The resulting cullet, separated by grain size and colour, can now be melted down and processed together with new raw materials to make new jars and bottles.
Vetropack is constantly working towards increasing the proportion of recycled material used in glass production. In 2023, the proportion of recycled glass purchased to use in production at the Austrian sites was up to 60, 70, and 74 per cent for flint, green and brown glass, respectively. This contingent is further supplemented with glass cullet generated during production at Vetropack before it is used to make new glass containers. As part of its Strategy 2030, Vetropack continuously strives to reduce its own ecological footprint, improve the proportion of recycled glass along the entire value chain for both single-use and reusable containers, and improve access to core resources (mainly cullet).
FAQ's
Bottles (wine and juice bottles, bottles for vinegar, oil, etc.), food jars (jars for jam, pickles, pesto, etc.), perfume bottles and deodorant rollers, medicine bottles, disposable glass spice mills and glass bottle caps belong in the glass container. Returnable bottles, however, should be taken back to the beverage retailer so they can be reused immediately.
Glass products other than packaging are best disposed of in the general waste or at a recycling centre. These include flat glass (window glass, windshields), glass tableware (drinking glasses, ovenware, vases), heat-resistant preserving jars, candle holders, light bulbs (incandescent bulbs, neon tubes), screens, mirrors, and borosilicate glass (laboratory glassware, vaccine vials). Stoneware, porcelain, and ceramics are not glass and should not be placed in the collection container.
All local authorities or waste advisory services can provide information on the nearest locations of glass collection containers.
Glass packaging does not need to be rinsed out before disposal, but it must be empty. Bottle and container caps should be removed and disposed of separately. Glass packaging should also be placed gently in the container so that it does not shatter too much. The smaller the shards, the more difficult it is for the processing plants to remove foreign matter. And of course, the surrounding residents will thank you – glass should also preferably be disposed of during the day and on workdays and not at night.
Further information
Additional information on glass recycling in Austria is available at