Description

The Ordinance aims to reduce and manage packaging waste by promoting reuse, ensuring proper collection and recycling, and setting heavy metal limits. The ordinance prohibits the marketing of packaging that exceeds certain heavy metal concentration limits, aiming to reduce environmental and health risks. It applies to all packaging introduced into the Austrian market, covering both household and commercial waste. The regulation mandates producers and distributors to participate in authorized recycling systems and take responsibility for packaging disposal. Amendments have aligned it with EU directives and introduced competition in waste management. Overall, the ordinance establishes a structured framework to minimize environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency. The text consists of 26 Articles and 6 Appendixes and provides for responsibilities for household packaging; requirements for industrial packaging; duties of self-importers; and provisions relating to final consumers.