Littering: Federal Council wants uniform fines
In the future, anyone who leaves litter in public spaces will be punished uniformly throughout Switzerland.
Anyone who leaves litter lying around instead of disposing of it correctly - in other words, anyone who engages in littering - will in future be able to be punished with a uniform fine throughout Switzerland. This new provision would be implemented at cantonal level. The Federal Council supports an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act proposed by the National Council's Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK-N) and adopted the corresponding statement at its meeting today. The amendment is to be coordinated with the ongoing revision of the legislation on administrative fines.
Fines ranging from 100 to 300 francs are envisaged. Today, 18 cantons already provide for fines for throwing away small amounts of waste. These range from 40 to 300 francs.
The impetus was provided by the parliamentary initiative submitted in 2013 by National Councilor Jacques Bourgeois (FDP / FR) to strengthen measures against littering (13.413). Parliament is expected to decide on the amendment in the summer session.
