The Swiss waste management economy is a well-functioning system involving public and private stakeholders. This system is one component in a sustainable and comprehensive resources policy. Raw materials are scarce and expensive, and for this reason any material cycles that are still open must be closed. This is the goal that has been set within the context of resource conservation and the circular economy.
In response to a parliamentary initiative on promoting the circular economy in Switzerland (20.433), in March 2024 Parliament decided that the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), the Energy Act (EnA) and the Public Procurement Act (PPA) should be revised. In the context of this legislative revision, a new chapter will be created in the Environmental Protection Act on protecting natural resources and improving the circular economy. The issue will thus assume greater weight in environment law.
On 13 November 2024, the Federal Council decided that the larger part of the new legislative basis should pass into law on 1 January 2025. The provisions on littering (Art. 31b para. 7 and Art. 61 para. 4 EPA), on the municipal waste monopoly (Art. 31b paras 4–6 EPA) and on the financing of private sector organisations (Art. 32ater EPA) will come into force at a later date, and the associated ordinances will be updated accordingly. The revised ordinances will be put out for consultation at a later date: that on introducing national fines for littering is planned for spring 2026, while the consultation on the provisions on the municipal waste monopoly and financing via private sector organisations is planned for autumn 2026. The implementation of Dobler Motion 20.3695 and the introduction of a standardised collection of plastics throughout Switzerland is planned on the basis of the current Article 30b of the Environmental Protection Act. The consultation on the associated ordinance revision is scheduled for the first half of 2025.
The following timetable is planned for the consultations on amendments to the various ordinances (as at December 2024, subject to change):
Further information
Last modification 17.04.2025
