Austrian shoppers donate hundreds of thousands through deposit machines

Austria’s supermarket chains are reporting strong participation in the country’s one-way deposit system, including donations made directly at return machines, ORF reported. Lidl said customers had donated more than 100,000 euros nationwide since its donation option began in early 2025.

Austria introduced a 25-cent deposit on one-way bottles and cans at the start of 2025. At many return machines, customers can choose to donate the deposit to a good cause instead of receiving it back.

Lidl allows customers to select where their deposit goes. This year, the supported organisations include the Austrian Red Cross, the child and youth protection organisation Pro Juventute, the Naturschutzbund nature conservation association and the Freunde der Tierecke association.

Spar also allows customers to donate their deposit vouchers. In 2026, the money goes directly to the fire brigade responsible for emergencies at the relevant Spar supermarket, keeping the donations within the local region. In cities with professional fire brigades, the money supports the fire brigade’s youth division.

More than 670,000 euros was collected through deposit donations at Spar and Interspar supermarkets last year for volunteer causes. The supermarket chains cannot say how many customers donate their vouchers and how many redeem them. Requests for information from ORF to Hofer and Rewe went unanswered.

Supermarket chains said the overall development of the one-way deposit system had been positive. Returning bottles and cans has become part of many customers’ shopping routines, while the donation option adds a social or charitable purpose to the process.