Swiss recycling system "overwhelms" expats, media reports
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A new report has claimed that expats are being “overwhelmed” by the Swiss system of recycling. Experts in the field noted that, thanks to its complexity and strict rules, waste disposal is one of the hardest things to get used to after moving to Switzerland.
Recycling in Switzerland is a major headache for new arrivals
“Can I recycle a cardboard box covered in grease? What does PET actually mean? Do coffee pods count as food or aluminium waste? Who is this “Battery Man”, and why are his advertisements everywhere?” These are just some of the many questions new arrivals may have when facing the Swiss recycling system.
Now, according to reporting from Nau, in a country where getting settled is one of the greatest challenges expats face (according to the latest InterNations survey), what can be as simple as throwing away rubbish is one of the hardest things to get used to.
"I feel like I'm drowning in garbage…There are little piles of trash all over the house that need to be taken to different places," one expat told the internet forum Reddit. In the post, he detailed the high costs of getting rid of rubbish in Switzerland and how hard it is to get it right. “Do you guys do anything else, or is this a full-time job?” he joked.
What’s more, the penalties for not adhering to the system can be extreme. In 2024, one man in Zurich was fined 120 francs for incorrectly disposing of a cardboard box in a tram stop bin.
Why is the Swiss recycling system so strange for expats?
Speaking to Nau, relocation and expat advisor Michael Büchi noted that the issue of recycling “often raises eyebrows” for internationals living in Switzerland. For him, the issue is that most new arrivals come from countries where there is either no recycling culture at all or the rules on the practice are extremely relaxed.
As a result, even basic rules around green waste and cardboard collection are not followed. Büchi added that the fact that bin bags are quite expensive and can only be used in the town where you bought them is also a major source of confusion.
Where can I find the rules for recycling in my area?
So, how can expats navigate the recycling system in Switzerland? For Büchi, it starts as soon as you move into your new home. With each local council approaching recycling differently, he suggested downloading “the relevant information from the expat's residence website and going through it step by step", noting collection times for certain items, locations for recycling and rules around what to put in certain bins.
Another step is to find the nearest place to buy bin bags that are used in the local area, usually a supermarket or the council itself. As to why bin bags are so expensive, authorities use the charge to pay for the waste collection service, instead of using local taxes.
Some places in Switzerland, especially cities, go even further to help expats adjust to the system. Maria Colon, spokesperson for the recycling service in Zurich, told Nau that "all new residents of Zurich, including expats, will receive important documents and information about the City of Zurich. This also includes a leaflet on proper waste disposal."
Recycling information in Zurich is also available online in eight languages, and residents can also download an app for the most comprehensive information. In Bern, Basel and Lucerne, recycling information is available online in 20 different languages.
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more