Important changes from 1 October: cheaper travel, pricier shopping, tax cuts, and new waste collection rules
From 1 October, several significant changes will come into effect in Hungary. Among these are new regulations on rubbish collection, price increases on certain products due to a new government decree, cheaper travel options to the Budapest Airport, and the eagerly awaited income tax exemption for eligible women. Below is a summary of the most important changes.
Price hikes from 1 October on multiple products
Few people realise that Hungary operates an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, requiring manufacturers to prepay the costs of waste management for their products—covering disposal and recycling of packaging, furniture, electronics, and clothing. Ultimately, these costs are passed on to consumers.
The Energy Minister, Csaba Lantos, recently approved an increase in EPR fees per kilogram for several categories:
- Wooden furniture: from 17 to 51 forints
- Textile packaging: from 67 to 148 forints
- Glass packaging: from 77 to 107 forints
- Advertising paper: from 94 to 204 forints
Fees for electronic waste, batteries, lamps, and vehicles will also increase, meaning shoppers can expect to pay more in stores.
Changes to waste collection services
The Hungarian Waste Management Association (MOHU) is updating the General Terms and Conditions for public waste services, mainly introducing stricter rules:
- Extra charges will apply if bins are excessively heavy (for example, from tomorrow, a 60-litre bin can carry up to 15 kg, an 80-litre 17 kg, a 120-litre 27 kg, a 240-litre 50 kg, a 770-litre 175 kg, and an 1100-litre 250 kg of waste).
- Collection may be refused if bin lids are not properly closed or if rubbish spills over, though customers will still be billed.
- Depositing paper, plastic, metal, building rubble, or electronic waste in regular bins can result in fines of 20,000 to 30,000 forints.
- Bin owners will be responsible for repairs and must arrange any fixes within 8 days.
UPDATE: MOHU’s reaction
According to the MOHU, there are no changes in the daily practice or fees of waste collection. Garbage trucks will continue to collect waste under the same system. The topics mentioned in our article above—such as weight limits, damage events, etc.—have already been part of the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) previously.
Among the recent amendments, the truly relevant points are:
- the regulations regarding the delivery of construction and demolition waste,
- and the introduction of the concept of a mobile waste collection yard.
Regarding bulky waste collection, MOHU noted that the GTC requires providing at least one collection per year.
You may consider that local authorities may impose even stricter conditions and higher fees.
- Chaos in Budapest: Garbage collectors strike, waste collection halted
Cheaper airport bus travels, but not for tourists
Starting tomorrow, anyone holding a valid digital or paper ticket for Budapest’s public transport—such as a Budapest, Pest County, or national season pass (excluding half-year passes)—can buy a discounted ticket for the 100E Airport Express bus for just 1000 forints. This additional ticket is available through the BKK BudapestGO app under “Other transport tickets” and can be validated upon boarding by showing your valid season ticket.
- Click for more Budapest Airport news.
However, for passengers without a season ticket, the 100E single ticket price will rise from 2200 to 2500 forints, mainly affecting tourists. The Budapest City Council has deemed this change fair.
Children under 14, seniors over 65, and those with pension passes or MÁK cards can still use the 100E Airport Express free of charge.
Income tax exemptions
From 1 October, mothers raising three children will be fully exempt from paying personal income tax (SZJA). Practically, eligible women must declare their entitlement to the exemption in their tax advance statement. Since Hungary’s income tax rate is 15%, this exemption means a noticeable boost to the family budget for average earners.
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This relief is expected to impact 200,000 to 250,000 mothers and reduce national budget revenues by approximately 200-290 billion forints. If extended next year to mothers with two children, the revenue loss could reach 655 billion forints. However, the government anticipates that increased consumption due to these tax savings will partially offset the shortfall through higher VAT receipts—though this rebound is estimated to recover only about 20% of the lost income.
This is OUTRAGEOUS!!!
If I pay my tax, which includes garbage collection, then I expect my garbage to be picked up, END OF STORY!
The garbage men have no business weighing my trash cans or inspecting their contents. That is not their job. That is not ANYBODY’s job! It is not the role of the government, period.
And if there is trash around the cans, it’s because hobos rummage through them the night before. Why? To fish out any bottles and cans, which the government–kowtowing to E.U. diktat–decided can be returned to store in exchange for 50 Fts.
This is total madness!
Judging by the lot that serve my village. I doubt they will be riffling through the rubbish bins or recycle bins for misplaced recyclables. The crew that come around here over the past decade have carted off small tires, old paint, construction debris, and never said anything because it was placed inside of rubbish bags in the bins. If I were employed by them I would not be searching through the trash because who knows what may be tossed, medical waste, and who knows what else.
Every village and town should have bins for items not wanted in the landfill. Just about every house in my village has toxic items placed in piles of construction debris probably leaking into the soil. Why because they have no car and no place to properly dispose of toxic items. Just imagine trying to board a train or bus with these items. Not likely to be allowed to board.