Press Release 30th August 2024

4 months until the start of the one-way deposit - REWE Group is ready for 1.1.2025!

Everything is going according to plan: For several months now, all REWE Group retail company locations in Austria have been preparing for the introduction of the new deposit system for single-use plastic bottles and aluminum cans on January 1, 2025. By then, the stores will all be ready to take back several hundred million single-use deposit containers per year.

A person inserting a plastic bottle into a recycling machine. The background features images of glass bottles. German text on the machine promotes recycling.

All REWE Group retail company locations in Austria are preparing for the introduction of the new deposit system for single-use plastic bottles and aluminum cans on January 1, 2025. / Copyright: © BILLA AG / Robert Harson - Abdruck zu redaktionellen Zwecken honorarfrei, Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge

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At a glance

More than half of the BILLA stores have already been converted
In addition to expansions and container solutions, the upgrading of return machines is in full swing behind the scenes
Thanks to in-house logistics, no additional transport kilometers are required – this saves not only costs but also valuable resources
PENNY has established a reusable product range and is acquiring completely new machines – about half of the stores are already in operation with the new machines
REWE Group invests a double-digit million amount in the conversion

REWE Group Board Member Marcel Haraszti: “With the new single-use deposit system, old cans and bottles will be transformed into new beverage containers. This is beneficial for the climate, conserves valuable resources, and is an important step towards achieving Austria's recycling goals. As the REWE Group, we are proud to be part of the solution together with our customers.”

REWE Group trading companies are prepared

At larger locations with traditionally high sales volumes of beverage containers, there will be an easy return option at the machines: More than half of the 1,250 BILLA and BILLA PLUS markets have already been converted. The adjustments are made without customers noticing during their shopping, as the front devices remain visually unchanged; the needed additional devices in the background are installed at all locations during ongoing operations. For PENNY, completely new machines have been procured – about half of the stores are already in operation with these, and the rest will follow progressively by New Year’s Day. BIPA and ADEG are also preparing for the new deposit system: At BIPA locations and about half of the ADEG markets, customers will be able to easily return their single-use deposit bottles and cans manually starting January 1, 2025.

Thanks to in-house logistics, the collection of containers at all locations will not cause any additional empty trips, as the containers will be picked up in a CO2-efficient manner during product deliveries. To adequately prepare employees for the transition, intensive training sessions will soon take place across Austria. “I would like to thank our employees on-site in advance for their efforts,” says Haraszti.

The REWE Group has invested a significant double-digit million amount for retrofitting existing machines and purchasing new ones, along with transport and storage costs.

Key information for customers at a glance:

Starting January 1, 2025, there will be a refund of €0.25 for all bottles and cans with a deposit logo.
Single-use deposit containers are easily recognizable by the deposit logo.
All closed beverages in plastic bottles and metal cans with volumes from 0.1 to 3 liters will feature the deposit logo.
Products excluded from the new single-use deposit system primarily include dairy products with more than 51% milk content as well as syrups.
When returning, containers must not be crushed. The label must be intact, and the barcode on the packaging must be clearly readable. The bottle cap does not need to be on the bottle for the deposit refund.
The deposit on single-use containers made of plastic and metal is an important contribution towards achieving a collection rate of 90% by the year 2027.