Recycling in Switzerland: New plastic collection system from October

Switzerland has a plastic problem: every year, 14,000 tons of macro and microplastics find their way into Swiss soils, surface waters and their sediments. According to a 2022 report, Switzerland has the highest plastic consumption in Europe at 127 kilograms per capita per year – and is at the bottom of the list when it comes to reducing single-use plastic.

But now recycling in Switzerland could soon experience a revolution: a new, nationwide collection system for plastic waste and beverage cartons will be launched in October. Unlike aluminum, glass and cardboard, there is currently no uniform solution for plastic, but the non-profit organization Recypac will switch together with Migros, Coop and other retailers, as the NZZ reports.

The new system works in a similar way to PET collection: plastic packaging and beverage cartons are to be collected in special bags and recycled, even without prior washing. These bags can then be handed in to specific collection points. Until now, there was no uniform system in Switzerland, and plastic separation was not possible everywhere. This is now set to change.

The recycling of the waste will initially be carried out in Germany and Austria, but the granulate produced will be returned to Switzerland. The aim is a closed loop, which is supported by the cooperation of major distributors, food manufacturers and packaging producers such as Nestlé, Unilever and Tetra Pak.

Greenpeace, however, criticized the project because it was too heavily influenced by the plastics industry. Instead of recycling, more emphasis should be placed on reusable systems. “Greenpeace condemns this new lobby, which shows no willingness to use less single-use plastic,” it says. The Federal Office for the Environment, however, sees an ecological advantage in the recycling of beverage cartons.

Whether the project is successful depends on the approval of the municipalities. They must first grant concessions to Recypac. Zurich is already showing interest and is considering participating. The city introduced plastic collection together with Coop, Migros and Mr. Green in 2022. According to Entsorgung und Recycling Zürich, the population has “great interest” in separate collection. The city would therefore welcome a national solution.