Trash deposit refunds to be issued for Nova Rock and Frequency festivals

The Supreme Court of Austria ruled in November 2025 that a 20-euro "trash deposit" charged at the Nova Rock festival was "grossly disadvantageous." This ruling, following a lawsuit by the Association for Consumer Information (VKI), also applies to the Frequency festival, where a 10-euro deposit for returning a full or half-full trash bag was deemed unlawful by the Higher Regional Court of Vienna.

As a result, all affected festival-goers will now receive a refund of their contribution. This agreement was reached with the organizers, the VKI reported on Tuesday. Visitors to the festivals between 2017 and 2025 who paid the trash contribution are eligible for a refund upon presentation of their ticket. They can contact cashless@novamusic.obfuscationat or cashless@frequency.obfuscationat.

Currently, waste disposal is included in the ticket price for both festivals. A new environmental incentive system has been introduced: returning a full trash bag earns a 5-euro voucher, redeemable online for an early bird ticket for the following year's Nova Rock or Frequency festival. Additionally, submitting two or more full trash bags enters attendees into a draw for tickets or cashless credit for the next year.