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Switzerland

Law Summary Ordinance on Beverage Container Packaging puts a deposit on refillable and excessively wasted non-refillable containers, to reduce the amount of beverage containers in the municipal waste stream
Date Implemented November 1, 1990
Containers Covered Refillables, One-way containers that exceed a maximum amount in the waste stream (by weight)
Beverages Covered All beverages in refillable containers, one-way soft drinks, beer and mineral water
Refundable Deposits Refillable glass (mandatory):
  • U.S. 16¢ under .6 liters
  • U.S. 40¢ over .6 liters
Refillable (mandatory) and one-way (voluntary) PET:
  • U.S. 40¢
Fees / Taxes Aluminum cans: U.S. 4¢ per can to cover the costs of collection and recycling (voluntary)
Program Success

Containers are recovered at the following rates:

  • Glass one-way: 72%
  • Glass refillable: 95 – 98%
  • Aluminum: 68%
  • PET one-way: 53%
  • PET refillable: >70%
  • Steel cans: 35%

Refillables comprise the following portions of the following markets:

  • Containers covered under the ordinance: 79%
  • Wine: 58%

Details

Under Switzerland law, all refillables must carry a deposit. One-way beer, soft drink and mineral water containers that exceed a maximum amount (by weight) allowed in the waste stream will require deposits. Currently, all container types are within the maximum allowable amount. The law also requires that refillables display an indication of refillability and the amount of the deposit on the label.

Updated February 14, 2008