Gelber Sack & Gelbe Tonne in Austria: What Goes In?

The deciding factor is simply whether an item is packaging. It does not matter whether it carries a particular symbol; virtually all sales packaging in Austria is covered by the collection system.

• Plastic packaging: yoghurt pots, shower-gel and shampoo bottles, plastic trays, film, carrier bags, blister packs and polystyrene packaging.
• Metal packaging: food tins, drinks cans, aluminium trays and foil, bottle tops, screw caps and empty aerosol cans.
• Composite packaging: drinks cartons (Tetra Pak), coffee packaging, vacuum packs and other packaging made from mixed materials.

Packaging must be completely empty; “spoon-clean” is sufficient. Rinsing it with drinking water is neither necessary nor sensible, as the sorting facilities wash it anyway. Heavily soiled residues such as dried paint or oil do not belong in the yellow collection.

By far the most frequent error: using the Gelber Sack as a second residual waste bin. Items made from plastic or metal that are no longer packaging — in other words, everything not a package — belongs in residual waste or at the refuse site. Too many mis-sorted items can mean the collection crew leaves the bag or bin behind.

• No residual waste: Nappies, food scraps, vacuum cleaner bags, ashes and hygiene products belong in the residual waste bin.
• No electrical appliances: Even small devices such as toasters or hair dryers are WEEE (electrical scrap) and should go to the waste station or back to the retailer.
• No glass: Bottles and jars belong in the glass container, sorted separately into clear and coloured categories.
• No paper or cardboard: These go in the paper bin or container — the red bin in Vienna.
• No toys, pots, clothing or CDs: Just because something is made of plastic or metal does not make it packaging.

Austria's yellow collection is run by ARA, Altstoff Recycling Austria. On behalf of manufacturers and retailers, it organises the nationwide collection and recycling of packaging. For households, this means the cost of the yellow collection is already included in the purchase price; collections and container sites are free to use.

Austria has been among Europe's leaders in packaging recycling for decades with this system. Keeping it that way depends on households sorting correctly, as only clean, well-separated collections can be recycled to a high standard.

A newer development affects plastic drinks bottles: since 2025, most have carried a deposit. Single-use bottles and cans between 0.1 and 3 litres return 25 cents when taken back to a retailer. They should therefore go to the deposit-return machine rather than the Gelber Sack. Packaging outside the deposit scheme, such as milk bottles, washing-up liquid bottles and yoghurt pots, still belongs in the yellow collection.

Each municipality decides whether it collects sacks, empties bins or uses a Wertstoffhof recycling centre; the systems are equivalent. The Gelber Sack is more common in rural areas, and sacks are available free from municipal offices, waste-management associations and distribution points. Cities usually use a Gelbe Tonne, collected weekly or on a 14-day cycle. Densely built-up areas may also provide public collection points with yellow containers within walking distance.

Local rules differ, so always check your municipality's waste calendar. BinMinder can tell you when your Gelber Sack or Gelbe Tonne is next due with a free reminder.

Crumpled packaging saves space: squash bottles flat, press cardboard boxes down. Do not pack items tightly together — the sorting plants must be able to separate the materials. Screw caps from glass bottles go into the Gelber Sack, the glass itself goes in the glass container. And when the bag is full: replacements are free at your municipality — no need to hoard them. Also remember the collection day: for bags, in most municipalities you should put them out on the evening before or on the collection day itself, otherwise fines may apply for fly-tipping.