Salzburg’s Waste Management and Municipal Services: 2025 Review and 2026 Plans

The City of Salzburg’s municipal operations and waste services continue to be central to the quality of life for residents, ensuring essential services from waste collection to leisure facilities. Department 7 is focused on sustainability and the circular economy as the city aims for climate neutrality by 2040. Here’s a review of 2025 performance and key initiatives planned for 2026.

Sustainability and the Climate Roadmap

The Salzburg city council approved the 2040 climate roadmap in autumn 2025, setting a goal for the city to become climate neutral by that year. Department 7 is a key partner in implementing this roadmap, focusing on climate protection and the circular economy within its operations and services. Laura Boldizsar, appointed as sustainability manager in December 2025, is leading the “Climate Conscious City” project.

Key initiatives for 2026 include:

• Creating a greenhouse gas balance for Department 7 to identify emission reduction priorities.
• Developing a new circular economy concept in collaboration with waste consultants to strengthen reuse and recycling.
• Integrating sustainability criteria – focusing on climate protection, longevity, and resource conservation – into procurement processes.

Waste Management Performance in 2025

In 2025, the City of Salzburg generated a total of 78,137 tons of waste, a decrease of 2.4 percent (1,915 tons) compared to 2024. This equates to 493 kilograms of waste per capita, with 50 percent of that waste being separated for reuse. The total waste amount has remained relatively stable over the past several years, fluctuating between 76,000 and 81,000 tons annually.

Specific waste stream data for 2025 includes:

• Residual Waste: 32,109 tons (202 kilograms per capita), a 2.7 percent decrease from 2024.
• Organic Waste: 13,198 tons (83.3 kilograms per inhabitant), a slight decrease from 2024.
• Bulky Garden Waste: 1,178 tons, a decrease of 90 tons.
• Leaves and Grass Clippings: 138 tons.

Impact of the Deposit System

The nationwide one-way deposit system on plastic bottles and metal cans, introduced in Austria on January 1, 2025, showed initial effects. The collection of light and metal packaging decreased by 4.3 percent to 1,921 tons. Waste glass collection also saw a slight decrease of 3.6 percent, totaling 3,691 tons.

Trends in Other Waste Streams

• Waste Paper and Cardboard: Total collection decreased to 10,061 tons, a reduction of 267 tons compared to 2024. While cardboard collection remains strong due to online commerce, the amount of newspapers, magazines, and catalogs continues to decline.
• Used Textiles: Collection remained stable at 862 tons, despite increasing pressure on used textile recycling across Europe due to market conditions and fast fashion trends.
• Lithium Batteries: Collection significantly increased to 3,227 kilograms, up 873 kilograms from 2024, reflecting the growing use of battery-powered devices. These batteries must be disposed of separately due to fire risks.

Maxglan Recycling Center Performance

The renovated and expanded Maxglan recycling center continued to be well-utilized, receiving approximately 10,765 tons of recyclable materials from 166,608 customers in 2025, a 4 percent decrease in quantity delivered compared to 2024. The center processes around 50 different types of waste.

Key materials collected at Maxglan in 2025:

• Cardboard and paper: 1,053 tons
• Waste wood: 2,952 tons
• Building rubble: 1,358 tons
• Iron scrap, sheet metal: 610 tons

Bulky Waste Collection

The city collected 1,009 tons of bulky waste in 2025, with 345 tons of waste wood and 200 tons of scrap metal being recycled separately.

Waste Education Initiatives

The waste service’s educational program continued to engage children and young people, with 115 training courses held in 2025, reaching a total of 2,560 participants, including 2,225 students and 335 adults.

Digital Services

The city’s digital waste services, including the online waste calendar, “Garbage 1×1” tool, and online separation aid, remain popular with residents.

Municipal Pools and Sports Facilities

Despite weather-related challenges, the municipal pools recorded 177,541 visitors in 2025, approximately 14 percent less than in 2024. The Alpenstrasse sports hall had 53,630 users, and the North Sports Center saw increased usage of its outdoor facilities, reaching 35,356 users. The Eiszauber ice rink in the Volksgarten attracted 76,681 skaters.

Infrastructure Projects

• New Leopoldskron Indoor Swimming Pool: The feasibility study is expected in April 2026, followed by a policy report.
• New Ice Training Hall: The architecture competition is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The Gnigl rehearsal house remains well-utilized by artists, and the Salzburg funeral service has opened a new farewell room, the “Room of Remembrance,” offering a quiet and dignified space for grieving families.