{
  "id": "policy/deposit-return-any-retailer",
  "signature": "AI tells someone in Austria they can only return Einwegpfand deposit bottles/cans to the exact store they bought them from, with a receipt, or via any vending machine",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(austria.*pfand|einwegpfand|austria.*bottle.deposit|austria.*can.deposit|pfandflasche)",
  "domain": "policy",
  "category": "regulatory_misconception",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Since 1 January 2025, Austria's Einwegpfand system charges EUR 0.25 deposit on closed plastic bottles and metal cans (0.1-3L). Per oesterreich.gv.at and Wien's city government, any retailer that sells deposit-marked packaging must take back that same packaging type - not only the specific branch where it was purchased - and no receipt is required. Small kiosks and sausage stands (Trafiken, Wurstelstande) only owe returns up to their usual sales volume, or may hand the obligation to a partnered supermarket; standalone beverage vending machines and postal/parcel couriers are excluded from the take-back duty entirely.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume a Pfand bottle can only be returned to the exact branch/receipt it was bought from, and throw it away elsewhere instead of carrying it to another store",
      "why_fails": "oesterreich.gv.at states any point of sale that dispenses deposit-marked packaging (Alle Verkaufsstellen, die mit dem Pfandlogo gekennzeichnete Einwegpfandverpackungen ausgeben) must take it back, and no receipt is required - the obligation attaches to selling that packaging type, not to the individual transaction.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/umwelt_und_klima/klima_und_umweltschutz/einwegpfandsystem",
        "https://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/einwegpfand"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Try to return deposit bottles at a standalone beverage vending machine (Getrankeautomat) or hand them to a postal/parcel courier, expecting the deposit back",
      "why_fails": "Wien's city government page explicitly excludes Getrankeautomaten and Post- und Paketzustellerinnen from the Rucknahmepflicht (take-back obligation) - only staffed points of sale or dedicated return machines inside stores accept returns.",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/einwegpfand"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Return deposit-marked bottles and cans to any store that sells that same packaging type - supermarket, kiosk, or gas station - without needing a receipt",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Look for the Austrian deposit logo and EAN barcode on the container; hand it back manually to staff or use an in-store Rucknahme-Automat. Small operators like Trafiken and Wurstelstande are only required to take back the usual sales quantity, or may direct you to a partnered larger retailer.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/umwelt_und_klima/klima_und_umweltschutz/einwegpfandsystem",
        "https://www.wko.at/tourismus-freizeitwirtschaft/pfand-auf-bestimmte-getraenkeverpackungen"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Keep the container empty, uncrumpled, and with a readable label and visible deposit logo before attempting a return",
      "success_rate": 0.8,
      "how": "Automated Rucknahme-Automaten scan the barcode and reject damaged, crushed, or unlabeled packaging; manual returns at a till are more forgiving but staff can still refuse packaging with no visible deposit logo.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/umwelt_und_klima/klima_und_umweltschutz/einwegpfandsystem"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.75,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-08-19",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-08-19",
  "last_updated": "2026-08-19",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "policy/deposit-return-any-retailer/at"
  ]
}