Salzburg’s deposit-return holders win support despite limited monitoring

Deposit-return collection rings and baskets along Salzburg’s Salzach river are proving popular, according to ORF. Deputy Mayor Kay-Michael Dankl said the containers were developed by the city’s municipal works department and had not been damaged by vandalism.

The city installed three different models of collection containers for deposit bottles and cans nearly a year ago. The SPÖ group on the city council now wants to know how much public money was spent and how successful the stations have been.

Dankl said no formal inquiry was needed because the cost amounted to only a few hundred euros. The municipal works employees developed the containers themselves, he said, calling it one of the city’s least expensive projects.

“People are pleased when they can leave their can or deposit bottle for others to collect, and collectors do not have to search through entire rubbish bins,” Dankl said.

Further collection stations are possible, he said, naming the Überfuhr footbridge as one potential location. Many young people spend time there on warm days.

Expanding the system is not currently a priority, however. The city does not count how many deposit containers are placed in or removed from the stations, although Dankl said the system appeared to be used quite intensively.