The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

The main guiding principles of waste management policy are: avoidance of waste, recycling of unavoidable waste, optimisation of waste disposal. In addition to the subsidiarity principle, the prevention principle, the polluter pays principle and the principle of combating environmental problems at source must be observed in the implementation of the aims. 

The waste management strategy places special emphasis on the responsibility of manufacturers. The principle of producer responsibility must thus be observed in all future measures, whereby the responsibility of the other economic parties involved must also be taken into consideration.

With the waste management law of 2002 (AWG 2002), Austria has a good legal basis for the development of a future-oriented waste management system based on the principles cited above and is promoting the concept of sustainable development. 

The utmost priority is the protection of humans and the environment, the conservation of natural resources and the disposal of emission-neutral residues and conservation of landfill space. Environmental pollution must be reduced to a minimum by suitable measures for avoidance, recycling, other treatments and disposal of waste. 

Another function area involves cooperation in the identification and treatment of old waste deposits.

Old waste deposits include deposits of waste material and soil and water contaminated by these and from which, according to the results of hazard assessments, considerable risks for the health of people or for the environment proceed.