OrganizationPublished on 21 November 2025

Sector Circular Economy and Ambient Pollution Level

The Sector Circular Economy and Ambient Pollution Level comprises the divisions Economics and Innovation, Waste and Resources, Air Pollution Control and Chemicals, and Noise and NIR.

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.

Noise and NIR Division

The staff of the Noise and Non-Ionising Radiation (NIR) Division seek to protect human health and the environment from harmful impacts or nuisances due to noise or non-ionizing radiation (NIR). Their work is based on the Environmental Protection Act, the Noise Abatement Ordinance and the NIR Ordinance.

Air Pollution Control and Chemicals Division

The Air Pollution Control and Chemicals Division seeks to protect human health and the environment from harmful impacts or nuisances due to air pollution or chemicals. The legal basis is provided by the Ordinance on Air Pollution Control (LRV) and the ordinances in the field of chemicals. The Division publishes overviews of emission/exposure levels, and it supports the cantonal and communal authorities in their enforcement activities.

Economics and Innovation Division

The Economics and Innovation Division is responsible for the following topics: circular economy, resource conservation, sustainable consumption and production, green public procurement, and education, research and innovation in the environmental sector.

Direction

As of February 2023, Rahel Galliker is a Vice Director at the Federal Office for the Environment and member of the management board of the FOEN. She heads the Sector Circular Economy and Ambient Pollution Level.

Rahel Galliker (b. 1975) grew up in Gelfingen/Hitzkirch in the canton of Lucerne. After leaving school with a scientific Matura, she studied law at the University of Bern. She graduated at the beginning of 2000 and subsequently completed a graduate internship at the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). This was followed by an on-the-job traineeship and permanent position at the Cantonal Bank of Bern BEKB / BCBE, in the Restructuring department. In 2003 she became a research assistant at the then Federal Office for Refugees. In 2005 she returned to FEDRO as a research assistant, where her main activities included implementation of the new national fiscal equalisation scheme. In 2008 she became Head of the Political, Economic and International Affairs Division and then in 2013 was appointed Deputy Head of the Political and Official Affairs Division.
From April 2016 to February 2023, she served as private secretary to the Federal Chancellor, and from May 2017 was also Head of Staff to the Federal Chancellor. These roles included making political assessments of, in particular, Federal Council business under the joint procedure. She was also responsible for providing leadership support to the Federal Chancellor and the Vice Chancellors.
As of February 2023, Rahel Galliker is a Vice Director at the Federal Office for the Environment. She heads the Sector Circular Economy and Ambient Pollution Level.

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Contact

Hedwig Schaffer
Position: Direktionsassistentin
Tel.: +41 58 463 09 20
E-Mail: hedwig.schaffer@bafu.admin.ch