Topic Contaminated sites
Polluted sites are areas of limited extent that are polluted by substances which are potentially harmful to the environment or by waste. Contaminated sites are polluted sites in need of remediation. In Switzerland, around 38 000 polluted sites are listed in the registers of polluted sites. Among these, around 4000 are contaminated sites, of which about 1 800 have already been remediated. The revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), which came into force on April 1st 2025, aims to accelerate the treatment of contaminated sites, so that all remediations are completed by 2045.
In focus
Products and Services
Indicators
Search and list of all indicators
Contaminated sites: enforcement aids
Enforcement aids and guidelines by the FOEN.
Studies Contaminated sites
Waste and Resources Division
This division is responsible for Switzerland’s waste and resources policy and related aspects of the circular economy, and for the remediation of contaminated sites . It is also responsible for direct federal enforcement in transboundary movement of waste, the levying of prepaid disposal fees (glass bottles and batteries) and the levying of the CSRCO charge on landfilled waste.
Media releases
Contaminated sites: In brief
Switzerland has around 38,000 landfill, industrial and accident sites which are polluted with substances and waste that could pose a danger to the environment. These are all listed in a special register, or cadastre. More than 1,800 sites classified as contaminated have been remediated to date. The target of completing all necessary remediation work by 2045 is unlikely to be achieved. The current revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) is intended to speed up this process.
Contaminated sites: Fundamentals
How are contaminated sites to be handled? The remediation of the "sins of yesterday", is not an exact science. Rather it is an after-the-fact corrective fraught with many imponderables and surprises.
Remediation of contaminated sites
A large number of polluted sites can only be handled in steps for reasons of personnel, time and money. In principle, individual sites should be approached first at a global and then at an increasingly detailed level in order that those among the approximately 38'000 polluted sites requiring remediation or monitoring can be earmarked.
Financing remediation of contaminated sites
Who foots the bill for the investigation, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites? Can financial assistance be provided by the federal government?
Contaminated sites: Legislation and enforcement
Waste and Resources Division
Waste and Resources Division
Monbijoustrasse 40
3003 Berne