Herbert Handlbauer refuses the increase because the rates were already raised earlier this year. Waste disposal is legally mandatory. Purea has given Handlbauer until the end of this month as a “cooling-off period” to pay the outstanding invoices. After that, collection from the slaughterhouses will cease.
Handlbauer states that it slaughters about 7,000 to 8,000 pigs and approximately 1,500 cattle per week at its locations in Ried and Linz. There are 250 people directly employed at the companies and another 150 through temp agencies. Many workers in the region are thus directly or indirectly dependent on the work at Handlbauer. The potential closure would therefore mean a significant blow to the local economy.
Handlbauer's position in the Austrian meat industry is of great importance to both agriculture and food supply. The company processes a significant portion of Austrian meat and has an extensive network of farmers and livestock breeders who supply their animals.
A closure would also cause a chain reaction, with potentially disastrous consequences for the livestock sector. Farmers would be left without a sales channel, which not only threatens their income but can also lead to a surplus of livestock with all the associated consequences.
The threatened closure is the result of a complex combination of circumstances. On one hand, rising costs for the processing of slaughter waste have caused financial problems for the company. This is a direct expense that is difficult to pass on, putting pressure on the company's profitability.
At the same time, there is a clear decline in meat consumption underway in Austria. More and more Austrians are choosing to eat less meat or even switch completely to a plant-based diet. This trend is partly encouraged by active promotional campaigns from the Austrian government. For example, new dietary guidelines have been introduced that promote the consumption of plant-based products and advocate reducing animal products.
Although a last attempt is being made to keep the slaughterhouse open, the future remains uncertain. The Austrian government, as well as several interest groups, are closely monitoring the situation.