Published on 4 August 2025
FAQ - Plastics in the environment
1. Quantities, sources and how they enter the environment
Around one million tonnes of plastics are used and 790,000 tonnes of plastic waste generated every year in Switzerland. Almost half of these plastics were in use for less than a year, for example as packaging. Eighty-three per cent (around 660,000 tonnes) of plastic waste is thermally recycled in waste incineration plants and 2% (around 10,000 tonnes) in cement works. Around 70,000 tonnes are processed into recycled material, meaning that 9% of Swiss plastic waste is recycled. A further 6% (50,000 tonnes) of plastic waste is reused, for example textiles.
Based on the data available from studies for Switzerland, the FOEN estimates that around 14,000 tonnes of macroplastics and microplastics end up in Swiss soil, surface waters and sediment every year. The majority of these plastics enter the environment through tyre abrasion (around 8,900 tonnes) and littering (around 2,700 tonnes).
The main sources of plastic waste in the Swiss environment are:
- Tyre abrasion
- Littering and illegally dumped plastic waste
- Fragments of plastic materials, e.g. from manufacturing, from disposal and from the construction industry
- Sports fields and playgrounds, especially artificial turf football fields
- Plastics in compost and digestate
- Agriculture.
Macroplastics (particles larger than 5mm and plastic waste) are released into the environment mainly through plastic waste not being correctly disposed of (e.g. littering). The majority of microplastics (particles smaller than 5mm) are released as secondary microplastics through the abrasion and decomposition of plastic products (e.g. tyre abrasion). Over time, macroplastics break down into microplastics. The enormous number of microplastic particles creates a problem for the environment because they are hardly visible and are difficult to remove from the environment.
Plastic waste is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner in Switzerland due to the country’s well-functioning waste management system. Plastic waste is either processed thermally in incinerators or cement factories or recycled. Thanks to the cleaning measures in public spaces (e.g. street cleaning) and waste water treatment plants, a large proportion of plastics can be removed and does not enter the environment.
In addition to littering, the abrasion and degradation of plastic products (e.g. tyre abrasion) and the gradual decomposition of macroplastics into microplastics are the main problems of environmental pollution by plastics.
According to current estimates, around 14,000 tonnes of plastics enter the Swiss environment every year. However, plastics do not decompose in the environment, or do so only over a very long period. They therefore accumulate in the environment. Furthermore, the long-term effects of exposure to plastics – microplastics in particular – on living organisms is not yet known. We therefore apply the precautionary principle: plastics do not belong in the environment and their input must be reduced as far as possible.
Despite Switzerland's efficient waste management system, single-use plastic products are released into the environment as a result of littering or due to an overflow from wastewater treatment plants during periods of heavy rainfall, thus bypassing established treatment measures and retention mechanisms.
If disposed of in an environmentally sound manner (e.g. not disposing of cotton buds in the toilet or carelessly leaving waste lying around), single-use plastic products are not a direct problem for the environment. Nevertheless, resources and energy are used to manufacture and dispose of these products – for something that only has a very short period of use. Single-use plastic products should therefore be replaced by reusable products where possible, such as in takeaway catering, where there are already numerous alternatives such as reusable cups, plates and cutlery available.
Microplastics are intentionally added to some products, such as cleaning agents, personal care products (e.g. toothpaste, exfoliants) or fertilisers to give them a desired property. When used, the microplastic particles they contain end up in wastewater and, in some cases, in our lakes and rivers where they may pose a risk to the aquatic environment.
In September 2023 the EU Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 restricting microplastics (synthetic, water-insoluble polymers with particle sizes smaller than 5mm) intentionally added to some products. The Federal Council is also planning to introduce such a ban and in late 2024 submitted a corresponding amendment to the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem, SR 814.81) for consultation. A decision will be made on this towards the end of 2025.
EU information on microplastics and the consultation documents on the amendment of the ORRChem (available in German, French and Italian).
Many different types of plastic enter the environment. It is an undisputed fact that plastics pollute the environment because of their persistence. Nevertheless, there is a major need for research to improve the data situation, so that the responsible agencies can better assess the risks to humans and animals.
Plastic items on the ground or floating may injure animals, e.g. if they become entangled in fishing nets, or if they swallow plastics causing intestinal damage. If an animal swallows too much plastic, this can also make it feel satiated and it may starve.
Microplastics are absorbed into the organism via food or breathing and are probably in a large part excreted again. Inflammatory reactions have been observed in earthworms. Harmful effects on other animals cannot be ruled out.
There are major knowledge gaps in three areas: There is a lack of knowledge about the input of plastics into the environment; about the fate, behaviour and degradation of plastics in the environment; about the impact of plastics on living organisms and ecosystems.
Although isolated information already exists in all three areas, it is often subject to major uncertainties and is hard to compare and interpret due to different methodologies and units. Furthermore, very small particles cannot be covered by current methods, this applies to tyre abrasion, for example, which is quantitatively highly significant.
Standardised methods for detecting microplastics in various parts of the environment (e.g. soils, sewage sludge, air) are to be developed in cooperation with various research institutes (Agroscope, Eawag, Empa). This will allow a comparison of various parts of the environment in order to obtain an overall picture of the environmental impact of microplastics going forward.
Research is also being conducted in the field of biodegradable plastics. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) will map the current situation (quantities and areas of application) of biodegradable plastic products and characterise the materials available on the market in terms of their degradability. Methods for detecting biodegradable plastics in soil, compost and digestate samples are also to be improved.
2. Measures
A number of established measures are already in place to reduce plastics being released into the environment. Firstly, Switzerland has an efficient waste management system in which plastics, if disposed of properly, are recycled (e.g. PET beverage bottles, plastic bottles with lids) or thermally recycled, which prevents them from being released into the environment. Secondly, a large proportion of plastics are collected through the cleaning of public spaces (e.g. street sweeping) and via wastewater treatment plants.
Measures to actively combat littering play a central role in curbing plastics in the environment (see Question 2.2 How can littering be combated?).
In order to reduce compost and digestate contaminated with plastics, the limit value for plastics in compost and digestate was lowered in the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) in 2016.
Since 1 April 2022, the placing on the market and use of oxo-degradable plastics has been banned in Switzerland (see Question 2.7 Will Switzerland adopt the ban on oxo-degradable plastics from the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive?).
Despite significant and expensive cleaning efforts, littering, that is, casually throwing away or leaving behind small quantities of residential waste, is a major contributor to plastic pollution in the Swiss environment. The majority of littered waste is collected and properly disposed of by municipal services or private-sector players. However, this incurs high costs and ties up human resources.
The cantons or municipal authorities are primarily responsible for implementing measures to combat littering. They have already implemented measures, with the support of the Confederation and the involvement of private-sector organisations. Littering has to be combated with a variety of different actions, such as having a good waste disposal infrastructure in public spaces, raising awareness or imposing sanctions in the form of fines for littering (see links below). The following measures can be listed as examples: Clean-Up Days or charging a deposit on plastic cups, or less use of disposable tableware at large events.
FOEN information for specialists on littering
(in German, French and Italian)
- IG saubere Umwelt (IGSU)
(in German, French and Italian)
- IG saubere Umwelt (IGSU)
Plastic waste recycling must meet various requirements to ensure that it has an ecological advantage over energy recovery in a waste incineration plant or cement works and over the use of primary raw materials; it also uses raw materials in the form of energy, water and chemicals. Moreover, the processes involved – material collection and transport, and operation of the sorting and recycling plants – must be economically viable.
Some criteria for ecologically and economically useful recycling are:
- Sound financing and organisation;
- Expanded collection points/infrastructure/logistics;
- Clean, homogeneous collected material;
- High-quality, marketable recycled material;
- Ensuring transparency in collection, transport and recycling systems, including their financing;
- Clear and simple information for consumers.
One of the major challenges of plastic recycling is the variety of plastic types used and the range of additives they contain. Not all plastics can be recycled equally well, and additives can make recycling even more difficult. Non-separable plastic composites are also currently not recyclable on an industrial scale.
As take-back systems and recycling technologies are developed further, greater quantities of plastic waste can be recycled. Plastic products are increasingly designed to be recyclable, and new technologies for sorting and processing plastic waste open up further opportunities. The collection infrastructure for certain plastic waste is also constantly expanding; for example, in many regions of Switzerland plastic packaging can be separated from household waste for recycling, and the possibilities for collecting and recycling agricultural silage bale film are growing.
For more information on the collection and recycling of plastics go to Guide to waste: Plastics.
There are multiple privately-run providers of mixed plastic collections from private households and small businesses in Switzerland. Currently around half of the plastics collected in the same collection flow (e.g. in one collection bag) can be recycled, although recycling rates vary greatly. This is mainly due to the great heterogeneity of plastics and the wide variety of additives. Not all types of plastic can be recycled, nor is there always a viable sales market. The collected material may contain foreign substances or be contaminated in some other way, which reduces the recyclable amounts and quality of recycled material and means that even greater amounts of energy, water and chemicals are required.
Overall, however, the growth in mixed plastic collections from households in Switzerland is leading to an increase in the amount of recycled plastics. With around half of all the plastic waste collected currently being recycled, there is still room for improvement to further reduce the environmental impact.
It is important to distinguish between bio-based and biodegradable plastics. Bio-based plastics are produced from biomass (e.g. corn starch). However, the raw material is no indicator of how effectively the plastic will degrade, since biodegradable plastics may be either bio-based or fossil-based. Biodegradable plastics are decomposed by natural micro-organisms into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. Often, they can only be recycled within a reasonable period in industrial fermentation or composting plants, since only these plants meet the conditions (e.g. temperature) for full decomposition. Under real environmental conditions, biodegradable plastics decompose over time into microplastics, which are very slow to decompose into their chemical components. In addition, additives are introduced into oxo-degradable plastics which decompose when heated or exposed to sunlight into microplastic particles which, however, virtually do not degrade.
No. As Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is not required to adopt the Single-Use Plastics Directive. However, it does need to take action. Given Switzerland's close economic ties with the EU, the FOEN monitors developments in the bloc and continuously assesses any changes from a Swiss perspective. As part of ongoing work by government and Parliament, actions and instruments are being examined and implemented to tackle pollution of the environment by plastics.
In response to the Chevalley Motion (19.4182) 'When will oxo-degradable plastics be banned?', an amendment to the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) has also banned the placing on the market and use of oxo-degradable plastics in Switzerland as of 1 April 2022.
Switzerland has a well-functioning waste management system, in which plastics that are properly disposed of are either recycled or incinerated for energy recovery. Since 2000, it has been forbidden to dump combustible waste (including plastics) in landfills. Instead, they must be incinerated, and the heat and energy from this process recovered. Separate waste collections are at the heart of Swiss waste policy. For PET beverage bottles, Switzerland has a recycling rate of over 80%, thus exceeding current EU targets. The EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive requires at least 77% of PET beverage bottles to be collected for recycling by 2025.
In addition, retailers in Switzerland have introduced separate collections for plastic bottles with lids (e.g. milk and shampoo bottles).
Producers of single-use plastic products are now also encouraged to take more responsibility, along the lines of the industry agreements on plastic bags (see also question 2.9 Why are single-use plastic products not simply banned?).
The discussion on banning certain single-use plastic products is in full swing in Switzerland and abroad. In the EU, for example, certain single-use plastic products (e.g. cutlery, plates, drinking straws) have been banned since mid-2021.
In Switzerland, too, alternatives to conventional plastics are increasingly being used for single-use plastic products (e.g. made from wood or paper, or plastics made from renewable raw materials such as maize or sugar beet).
However, products made from other materials are often less environmentally sustainable than conventional plastics, because producing them also requires energy and raw materials. The aim is not to replace disposable single-use plastic products with ecologically inferior materials; the entire life cycle of all single-use plastics needs to be considered.
The FOEN wants to move away from an 'end-of-pipe' approach and advocates a circular economy. In optimising material cycles, it is important to address disposal issues already at the manufacturing stage of the product (what is known as 'eco-design'). Waste prevention is an important issue, because the most environmentally friendly waste is that which is not produced in the first place.
Other effective solutions exist to reduce single-use plastic products. The introduction of a small charge in 2017 for single-use small plastic bags at checkouts in the food branch reduced their consumption by almost 90%. Even if the total amount of plastics used in Switzerland is small, the impact of raising awareness is significant. Additionally, the existing industry agreement was extended to include an obligation to charge for reusable plastic bags in the non-food sector.
The Plastics in the Environment report, in response to the postulates tabled by Thorens Goumaz (18.3196), Munz (18.3496), Flach (19.3818) and the CVP Group (19.4355), sets out the potential for improvements that can be made to further reduce the impact of plastics on the environment. According to the report, the focus should primarily be on avoiding waste as well as on the development of recyclable materials and environmentally friendly alternatives. Existing starting points are packaging and single-use products, recycling, and the prevention of littering and plastics in biowaste. In addition, the targeted and environmentally sound use of plastics in construction, agriculture and forestry should also be encouraged, while the release of microplastics into the environment (e.g. through tyre abrasion) should be curbed further.
The FOEN is also active at the international level. Here, the work of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) on plastics is relevant: Switzerland is involved in the negotiations on a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution. Negotiations began at the end of 2022, and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) has held five meetings to date. The negotiations could not be finalised as planned in 2024, and so will be continued in 2025 (INC-5.2 in Geneva in August 2025).
In general, in order to reduce the environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, consumers should keep to the following cascade: Avoid, reduce, recycle.
For private individuals, avoiding waste by conscious and sustainable purchasing decisions and disposing of waste in an environmentally friendly manner is a crucially important way of preventing plastics from entering the environment.
Disposing of plastics properly means that they do not end up in the environment. Plastics are either recycled or processed thermally in incinerators or cement factories in an environmentally compatible manner.
Littering is one of the main reasons for environmental pollution by plastics in Switzerland. If we dispose of all our waste, including cigarette ends, in waste bins, we will already be making an important contribution to reducing environmental pollution by plastics. Likewise, waste containing plastics should never be flushed down the toilet, since this waste may then bypass the treatment measures; it should be correctly disposed of.
To close the plastics circular economy, it is important to use the separate collections of PET beverage bottles and PE bottles with tops (e.g. milk and shampoo bottles).