Vienna’s municipal waste management service, affectionately known as the “Karottenballett” (Carrot Ballet) and simply as “die 48er” (the 48s), marked its 80th anniversary today. Established on March 1, 1946, the Magistratsabteilung 48 (MA 48) – Department for Waste Management, Street Cleaning and Vehicle Fleet – originated in the immediate aftermath of World War II, when Vienna lay in ruins.
In the final years of the war, the city’s waste collection system had completely collapsed. Approximately 850,000 cubic meters of war rubble and an additional 200,000 cubic meters of refuse accumulated on the streets. Under the leadership of Mayor Theodor Körner, the Magistratsabteilung 48 – Fuhrwerksbetrieb und Straßenpflege der Stadt Wien (Department of Transport and Road Maintenance of the City of Vienna) was created to address the monumental task of clearing the debris.
What began as the removal of wartime rubble evolved into a modern waste management system. Initially, waste was disposed of in brick pits, but Vienna has since adopted sophisticated waste separation and thermal recycling methods. The city opened its first waste incineration plant on Flötzersteig in 1963. Separate collection of glass began in 1977, and containers for paper, metal, and plastics were introduced in the mid-1980s.
The scope of the MA 48’s responsibilities has expanded significantly over the decades. In addition to waste collection, street cleaning, and winter services, the department now manages public restrooms, the city’s vehicle fleet, waste advisory services, a towing service, the WasteWatcher program, and the Central Lost and Found Office.
For the first 30 years of its existence, the MA 48’s vehicles were painted blue. The switch to the now-iconic orange color established the distinctive branding of “die 48er.”
Currently, approximately 3,100 employees ensure the cleanliness of Vienna. The 80th anniversary was celebrated with a formal event in Vienna-Donaustadt on Monday. Attendees included Mayor Michael Ludwig, City Councillor for Climate Jürgen Czernohorszky, writer Arno Geiger, former State Secretary Gitti Ederer, and former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky.
From snowstorms to heatwaves and post-New Year’s Eve cleanup, the “Karottenballett” has been a constant presence in Vienna for 80 years. The city’s cleanliness and functionality are inextricably linked to the work of its 48er.
