Switzerland produces 45 tons of waste - per minute

Switzerland produces 24 million tons of waste every year - a challenge for people and nature.

The report "Unworry of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) takes on the topic of waste and sheds light on what is disposed of in Switzerland and in what quantities, why the quantities are constantly increasing, what the effects of this waste are, and how waste can be avoided.

Not all waste is created equal: 65% or around 15.5 million tons is construction waste: concrete, bricks, plaster, wood, metals and plastics. A large part of this, around 80%, can be recycled and reused as building material.

Of the municipal waste, i.e. household waste and those of similar composition from commerce, about 50% can be recycled. The rest is incinerated. Municipal waste accounts for a quarter of all waste produced in Switzerland. Per capita and year, this amounts to 700 kilograms. A large proportion of recyclable materials is still incinerated instead of being recycled - especially biogenic waste. Instead of being used in composting and fermentation plants for energy and as raw materials, around half ends up in incineration plants.

The remaining 11% of the total waste produced is divided into hazardous waste (10%) and sewage sludge (1%).

Avoid - Reduce - Recycle

Although Switzerland is exemplary in terms of waste disposal, these quantities of waste have a negative impact on people and the environment- both locally and globally. In the future, the principle of "avoid - reduce - recycle" should lead to a material cycle in Switzerland in which only 25% of raw materials are primary. The necessary measures include more conscious consumption, reuse of products and improved material and thermal recycling of waste materials.