Properly sorted waste
According to Eurostat, the European Statistical Office, Switzerland records more than 700 kg of waste per year per inhabitant. This places us third in European comparison Switzerland, however, is one of the most active recycling countries, with 217 kg per year per capita. For many people, sorting their wasite is already part of the daily routine.
As the sorting instructions differ from canton to canton and municipality to municipality, it is important to check with the local organisations, Real in Luzern (real-luzern.ch), Suibr in Nidwalden (suibr.ch).
Did you know, that in canton of Vaud, it is prohibited to mix in the same bag recyclable waste with others? Offenders may be fined for recycling errors...
In most cases, non-recyclable combustible waste should be disposed in taxed garbage bags. Anything else will be collected during pick-up rounds (compost, paper, cardboard), be deposited in ecopoints (glass, metal, oils, textiles, batteries, etc.) or waste collection centres. You can also return them to points of sale (PET bottles, plastic bottles, medicines, etc.).
Regarding glass, green, brown or white have dedicated collection point, all other colors go with the green glass.
Even if beverage bricks (fruit juices, milk, etc.) are manufactured to be recycled, Switzerland hardly recycle them. There some experimentation in place and very few collection points are available. In Luzern, for instance, there are currently only two collection points (Spar stores).
More information on getraenkekarton.ch (French or German)
Do you need to find collection points for any waste type? Look at recycling-map.ch
More information on recycling in Switzerland: swissrecycling.ch
More information on recycling in Switzerland: swissrecycling.ch
To go further:
- When you have to go to the dump, ask your neighbors if they need to throw something away as well. The trips number will be reduced!
- Public waste bins end up in the incinerator! If you can’t find a recycle bin, bring your waste back home and sort it properly.
- Interesting article about waste (German only)