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Berlin Keeps Repair Bonus as Austria Sets Out Narrower ‘Device Saver’ Scheme

Officials cite heavy uptake with budget limits driving targeted subsidies.

Overview

  • Berlin’s CDUSPD coalition will fund the city’s Reparaturbonus in the 2026/27 budget with about €1.25 million per year after reversing planned environment cuts.
  • The Berlin program, launched in September 2024, covers up to 50% of repair costs to a €200 cap and fully covers spare parts for work at repair cafés, with 2025 funds exhausted by mid‑year.
  • Lawmakers also kept related local measures including Parkläufer patrols, Kieztage bulky-waste pickups, and support for small waters, green roofs, and the Saubere Stadt initiative.
  • Austria is reworking its paused federal Reparaturbonus into the Geräte‑Retter‑Prämie with stricter eligibility that excludes bicycles including e‑bikes, mobile phones, luxury and wellness devices, and some entertainment equipment.
  • Vienna has penciled in €30 million annually from 2026 for the retooled scheme, with detailed rules to be set in the coming weeks after a program that logged roughly 1.7 million vouchers since 2022.