Waste: Dossiers

The fifth round of negotiations on an international treaty to curb plastics pollution will continue in Geneva from 5 to 14 August 2025. The aim of this agreement is to end the environmental impact of plastics. The Swiss delegation is in favour of a legally binding agreement containing measures along the entire life cycle of plastic in order to effectively protect the environment and human health against plastic pollution. Switzerland is a member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC), a group of countries with the shared goal of ensuring that the agreement results in significant reduction of plastic pollution by 2040.

28.04.2022 – A recently conducted national study to assess waste along Swiss rivers and lakes found that the origin of waste is quite diversified: in some cases, waste is discarded directly at the given location; in other cases, the waste washes up on river banks or lake shores or is swept up by the wind or other weather conditions. More often than not, the waste is made of plastic. This study will serve as an important frame of reference for action plans to maintain and further enhance the environmental cleanliness of Swiss river and lake regions in the future.