Austrian PET Recycling Firm Reports Slight Decline in 2026 Output

The PET‑to‑PET recycling plant in Müllendorf, Burgenland, processed 17,101 tonnes of PET beverage bottles in the first half of 2026, a seven‑percent drop from the record 18,403 tonnes in the same period of 2025 but an increase over 2024’s 16,071 tonnes. CEOs Christian Strasser and Thomas Billes said the European PET‑recycling market is under pressure because recycled PET remains consistently more expensive than virgin material and mandatory recycled‑content quotas are lacking. They noted that the recent Middle‑East conflict temporarily lifted prices of primary raw materials, briefly easing the gap before prices move back toward pre‑conflict levels.

The company plans two major upgrades for the fall of 2026: automation of the wire‑removal step that is now done manually, and the conversion of all five outdoor forklifts to electric drive, complementing the five already‑electric indoor units. These investments aim to cut costs and improve sustainability. The Austrian plastic‑bottle deposit system introduced in January 2025, with a €0.25 deposit targeting a 90 % collection rate by 2027, is expected to support increased recycling volumes in the coming years.