Yellow Bag Recycling Confusion: More Waste Ending Up in Organic Waste
- this behavior does not go unpunished: valuable organic waste becomes expensive residual waste, as bins containing plastic cannot be emptied and composted, according to teh Braunau district waste...
- Finest humus - that is the goal of every composting plant.
- "This is fatal for our bio collection," says Alexander Drexler from the composting plant of the same name in St.
this behavior does not go unpunished: valuable organic waste becomes expensive residual waste, as bins containing plastic cannot be emptied and composted, according to teh Braunau district waste disposal association.
Finest humus – that is the goal of every composting plant. A nutrient-rich soil, free of plastic particles, so that hobby gardeners can grow lettuce, carrots and broccoli without worry. “The path to this begins with all of us: with the correct separation of organic waste. Regrettably, plastic bags, frequently enough used as a preliminary collection aid, repeatedly end up in the organic waste bin. The problem: after emptying, no further sorting takes place. The bags get into the composting plant and break down into microplastics there – a danger to soils and the habitat”, says a press release from the waste disposal association. The environmental professionals advise either throwing biowaste loosely into the bin, or using paper or compostable biowaste bags. In the latter case, make sure to look for the “OK compost” or “Keimling” seal, because only these are certified and may be put in the organic waste bin. The phenomenon of the “yellow bag” in green waste is relatively new.
“This is fatal for our bio collection”
“This is fatal for our bio collection,” says Alexander Drexler from the composting plant of the same name in St. Peter and adds: “The bags are made of plastic and are considered foreign matter. We cannot empty such bins – manual sorting would be far too expensive and time-consuming.”
Pay attention when shopping, because terms like “bioplastic” lead to confusion in the supermarket. Bioplastic is plastic and does not belong in organic waste. “Only certified, compostable bags are suitable. Even the term ‘100 percent biodegradable’ does not necessarily mean that the waste bag is suitable for composting”, the Braunau environmental professionals share.
Austria’s Lower House Passes Law Requiring Disclosure of Beneficial Owners of Companies
The Austrian Parliament’s National Council approved legislation on January 12, 2026, mandating the disclosure of beneficial owners of companies, aiming to combat money laundering and financial crime. The bill passed with 138 votes in favor and 57 against.
The new law, officially titled the “Federal Law on the Clarity of Beneficial Ownership,” requires companies registered in Austria to identify and report individuals who ultimately own or control them. this includes those who directly or indirectly hold more than 25% of the company’s shares or voting rights. The legislation applies to all legal entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, and foundations.
- Reporting Deadline: Companies have until July 1, 2026, to submit their beneficial ownership facts to the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich).
- Central Register: The reported data will be stored in a central register maintained by the Federal Economic Chamber.
- Penalties: Companies failing to comply face fines of up to €100,000, as outlined in Section 18 of the law.
- Access to Information: Law enforcement agencies,financial intelligence units,and other authorized bodies will have access to the register.
The impetus for the law stems from recommendations made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in its 2023 report on Austria’s anti-money laundering framework. The FATF identified gaps in Austria’s beneficial ownership transparency regime and urged the government to strengthen its regulations.
“This law is a crucial step in strengthening Austria’s defenses against financial crime and ensuring the integrity of our financial system,” stated Finance Minister Magnus Brunner in a press release issued January 12, 2026.
Opposition parties, including the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), criticized the law, arguing it places an undue burden on businesses and could stifle economic activity. FPÖ parliamentarians proposed amendments to reduce the reporting requirements, but these were rejected by the governing coalition.
The law builds upon existing EU directives on anti-money laundering, specifically Directive (EU) 2015/849 and Directive (EU) 2018/843. Further details about the legislation are available on the website of the Austrian Parliament: https://www.parlament.gv.at/