How to dispose of hazardous household waste safely in Austria

Problemstoffe, often described as Sondermüll or hazardous substances, are household wastes containing dangerous ingredients that can harm people, the environment and waste-treatment facilities when disposed of incorrectly. They typically include:

• Paint, varnish and solvents: liquid paint residue, thinners, adhesives and resins, together with contaminated containers.
• Chemicals: aggressive cleaning products, descalers, drain cleaners, photographic and pool chemicals, pesticides and plant-protection products.
• Batteries and rechargeable batteries: from button cells to laptop batteries.
• Lamps: energy-saving bulbs, fluorescent tubes and LED lamps, which contain electronics or mercury.
• Medicines: expired medicines or those no longer needed.
• Oils: larger quantities of cooking oil, engine oil and other mineral oils.
• Small items containing toxic substances: mercury thermometers, asbestos-containing material, and cloths or brushes contaminated with chemicals.

Hazardous substances can often be identified by warning symbols on the packaging, such as a flame, skull and crossbones, corrosive or environmental-hazard symbol. Anything bearing one of these symbols must stay out of residual waste.

Austria has three established routes for hazardous household waste, depending on the province and municipality. The simplest is a Mistplatz, including Vienna’s MA 48 sites. They accept household hazardous waste free of charge throughout the year, usually subject to a quantity limit per visit. In rural areas, collection points run by the waste-management associations provide this service.

For households without a car, many municipalities operate a Problemstoffmobil. This collection vehicle stops at different locations on fixed dates; the municipal waste calendar shows when it will be nearby. Some regions even collect hazardous waste from the home after a booking. In every case, keep waste in its original container, tightly closed and labelled. Collection points often cannot accept unidentified mixtures.

Three streams do not require a trip to a collection point. Batteries and rechargeable batteries can be returned to any retailer that sells them. Collection boxes are available at supermarket checkouts, chemists and electrical shops, and return is free. Cover the terminals of lithium batteries with tape where possible to help prevent fires in collection boxes.

Take medicines to a pharmacy. Austrian pharmacies accept unwanted medicines free of charge and send them for controlled incineration. Do not put them in residual waste or flush them down a toilet; active ingredients can pass through wastewater treatment and reach groundwater. Energy-saving bulbs and LEDs count as small electrical items. Retailers must take them back even without a new purchase. Traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs, by contrast, may go in residual waste.

Engine oil from a home oil change should go back to the retailer. Anyone selling oil must take back the same quantity of used oil free of charge, so keep the receipt. Collect cooking oil in a sealable bottle and take it to a Mistplatz. Many municipalities allow small, securely wrapped residues in residual waste. Never pour oil down a drain: one litre can contaminate up to one million litres of water.

Rules for leftover paint distinguish its condition. Depending on the municipality, dried-out, completely empty paint containers may go in residual waste; liquid residue is hazardous waste. Usable leftover paint can often be given away before disposal. Washed-out brushes and rollers go in residual waste, while water containing solvent-based paint belongs in a hazardous-waste collection.

Austria incinerates residual waste, and hazardous substances contaminate the facilities, ash and filters. Batteries can cause fires in collection vehicles and during incineration. Chemicals endanger waste workers, while mercury and heavy metals can spread through ash and filter dust. Waste-management associations therefore accept household hazardous waste free of charge: the correct route is both safer and free.

Your municipal waste calendar or responsible waste-management association’s website lists the nearest hazardous-waste collection point and the Problemstoffmobil dates. For regular collection days covering residual waste, the Biotonne and the Gelber Sack, BinMinder can send a free reminder the evening before.