If you like our site, mark us as a preferred source on Google — so you’ll see our articles more often in search!
★Mark us as a preferred sourceA recent, comprehensive study has highlighted that older and younger generations have vastly different attitudes towards everyday waste separation. According to representative data presented by the ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT initiative, young people—despite being highly committed to climate protection—lag significantly behind older generations in the practical execution and awareness of separating their trash. In this article, we delve into the numbers behind the analysis, the expert explanations, and the latest motivational campaign.
In short: New surveys from ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT in 2025 and 2026 revealed that 85% of people over 50 pay strict attention to sorting their waste, compared to only 50% of 16-29 year-olds. While the youth shows high climate awareness, their practical routine and knowledge in this field are lacking. Experts suggest that a lack of household routine, a broader environmental focus, and social desirability bias contribute to these differences. A new Austrian campaign featuring famous role models aims to motivate younger generations to manage their trash more consciously.
The Statistics of Waste Separation: A Generational Divide
Published in Vienna on September 30, 2026, the analysis by ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT relies on three representative surveys conducted across 2025 and 2026. The data clearly shows stark generational differences regarding the sorting of packaging and trash.
A 2025 survey by the Market Institut highlighted that 85 percent of individuals over the age of 50 report paying “very” much attention to the rules of waste separation in their daily lives. By contrast, among the 16 to 29-year-old demographic, this figure stood at only 50 percent. A similar trend was observed in waste reduction efforts: 67 percent of older adults focus heavily on this, whereas only 24 percent of the youth claim to do the same.
There is also a significant gap in how informed people feel. In the same survey, 43 percent of those over 50 felt “very well” informed about waste prevention and sorting, compared to just 28 percent of the 16-29 age group. Another study conducted by Marketagent in late 2025 focused on knowledge regarding the Yellow Bin and Yellow Bag (Gelbe Tonne/Sack). It revealed that 49 percent of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) considered themselves extremely well informed, while only 29 percent of Generation Z (born 1995-2010) felt the same way.
A mid-2026 Market Institut survey focusing on residents of housing complexes confirmed this tendency: 37 percent of residents over 65 rated their knowledge as excellent, compared to 27 percent among the 16-29 group. You can find more official state information via the Official Austrian waste separation guide.
More Than Environmental Awareness: The Psychological Context
At first glance, the findings might seem surprising. According to data from Statistik Austria, more than eight out of ten young people (both in the 15-19 and 20-29 age brackets) consider making a personal contribution to climate protection important—a proportion similar to the general population. Thus, the younger generation’s lower engagement in practical sorting should not be misinterpreted as a lack of interest in environmental issues.
Prof. Thomas Brudermann, a behavioral and climate psychologist, provided context: for many older individuals today, waste reduction and sorting were among the very first central environmental topics they encountered. In contrast, today’s youth grow up surrounded by a much broader spectrum of climate and environmental issues. The expert pointed out that the higher mobility associated with younger life stages can create more concrete uncertainties regarding specific local sorting rules. Furthermore, he noted that social expectations around environmental duties can significantly influence self-reported behavior, which might partly explain the particularly positive self-assessment among older respondents.
Prof. Natalia Wächter, a youth researcher at the University of Graz, emphasized the importance of life phases. In her view, young people must gradually grow into routines like proper trash sorting. If parents manage these tasks at home, the youth do not have to worry about them. The more independently responsible they become for their own households, the more knowledge they acquire. Wächter also stressed the crucial role of parents as role models: if trash is not sorted at home, young people have nowhere to learn or practice it.
Using Role Models to Promote Conscious Actions
Despite the generational differences, there is a common foundation: in every age group, a clear majority states that they generally pay attention to sorting trash and packaging in their daily lives, albeit to varying degrees. ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT is building on this foundation with its new “Sammelheld:innen” (Collection Heroes) campaign. The initiative aims to showcase role models from various generations and backgrounds to highlight best practices.
The campaign features figures such as football legend Herbert Prohaska, influencer Anna Strigl, and the hip-hop duo EsRap. They share their personal motivations for recycling on posters and in short videos. Citizens are also encouraged to get involved through a virtual “Mitmach-Wall” (Participation Wall), where anyone can upload a photo and their own reason for recycling, thereby inspiring their community.
Andreas Pertl, spokesperson for ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT and CEO of the Packaging Coordination Office (VKS), stated that sorting trash is a cross-generational task. The surveys clearly demonstrate where further informational and motivational efforts are needed to reach people in all life stages and to make the active participation of all generations visible.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Study
What percentage of young people pay attention to sorting their trash?
According to the survey, only 50 percent of Austrian youth aged 16 to 29 report paying “very” much attention to sorting their trash in their everyday lives.
Why do younger generations feel less informed?
Young people tend to move more frequently, and differing regional rules can cause uncertainty. Additionally, they often lack the routine that comes with running an independent household, and their environmental focus is spread across broader issues like general climate change.
How are people being encouraged to improve their habits?
The ÖSTERREICH SAMMELT campaign uses well-known public figures—such as Herbert Prohaska and influencer Anna Strigl—to promote good habits. Additionally, a virtual participation wall allows everyday citizens to share their personal motivations.
Source:
