The Ordinance on the Prevention and Disposal of Waste (ADWO) came into force on 1 January 2016, replacing the Technical Ordinance on Waste (TOW). It gives greater priority to waste prevention and material recovery by providing the legal basis for efficient waste management. It has been amended several times since its introduction to address current challenges.
Key changes at a glance
- Expanding landfills in exceptional cases: Existing landfills in areas with usable groundwater may be expanded in exceptional cases, provided that water protection is guaranteed and that no alternative sites are available outside the water protection area.
- Phosphorus recovery: From 2026, the partial recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge and the complete recovery from animal and bone meal is mandatory.
- Disposal safety: The cantons are required to plan measures to ensure the safety of waste disposal at waste incineration plants.
- Energy use: Measures introduced in cantonal waste plans to utilise the calorific value of waste from thermal treatment.
- Waste hierarchy: Prioritisation of the preparation of waste for the reuse and material recycling of waste (comes into force in spring 2026).
Further amendments to the ordinances are planned as part of the revision of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) in response to parliamentary initiative 20.433 ‘Strengthening the Swiss circular economy’. The timetable for this can be found here: Waste policy
FAQs – Frequently asked questions
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Last modification 14.07.2025
