The “pollute-and-pay” principle, where each resident participates in the processing costs of household waste is one of the keys behind Switzerland’s recycling success. In several cantons, citizens pay a tax proportional to the quantity of waste in their garbage bags. The measure is aimed at encouraging everyone to sort and separate waste before depositing it at designated collection sites.
These sites are constantly upgraded to cater for different types of wastes: glass, paper and cardboard, vegetable matter, oils, plastic bottles, white tin and aluminum cans which are then separately processed throughout the different centers in Switzerland. Other waste is incinerated, permitting several cities to produce hot water and heating for communal buildings and private homes.
Communal waste disposal centers (déchetteries) permit residents to get rid of cumbersome objects such as furniture, bicycles, etc, free of charge. In certain areas, these objects are directly collected from the streets, according to a precise calendar, with the exception of household appliances. These can be returned to most major appliance stores, thanks to a recycling tax added at the time of purchase.
According to statistics in 2007, the volume of urban waste produced by Swiss households and companies was 5.46 million tons per year of which 51 percent was recycled and 49 percent sent to incineration factories to be transformed into heat.
Seventy-one percent of plastic bottles were recycled into synthetic fabrics for clothes, new plastic bottles, chocolate packaging, etc., while paper (70 percent), glass (95 percent), aluminium (90 percent) and three quarter of tin cans were also successfully treated.
The success of Switzerland's recycling efforts is the fruit of numerous awareness campaigns which have also helped rid the countryside of ugly open-air garbage dumps.
Each commune provides all the necessary information, pamphlets, guides, etc. to help the population actively participate in ecological action.
Further information.
