How the disposal of plastic packaging is set to change in Switzerland

**Switzerland to Tighten Regulations on Plastic Packaging Disposal from 2031**

*Bern, 31 August 2026* – The Swiss government plans to introduce mandatory recycling rules for plastic packaging, including items such as yogurt containers and milk cartons, beginning in 2031. The move aims to address the low recycling rate of plastic waste in the country and bring national practices closer to European Union (EU) standards.

According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Switzerland generates approximately 780,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year. Of that amount, only about 80,000 tonnes are currently recycled, indicating a recycling rate of roughly 10 percent.

Under the forthcoming legislation, retailers such as Coop and Migros will be required to take back plastic packaging in a manner similar to the existing take‑back schemes for glass and PET bottles. Where retailers are unable to manage the collection themselves, they must arrange for external service providers to handle it.

The Federal Council is also expected to establish binding recycling quotas for beverage cartons and single‑use plastics. To enforce these quotas, companies will need to record the volume of plastic packaging they place on the market. This data will enable authorities to monitor the proportion of packaging that is subsequently recycled.

Switzerland’s new framework is designed to align the country’s recycling performance with EU targets, though officials have indicated that the Swiss system will be “more pragmatic and less bureaucratic” than the EU model.

Presently, the disposal of plastic packaging is not uniformly regulated across the cantons. While some municipalities already collect plastic waste separately, the practice is not mandatory nationwide. Moreover, many recycling facilities lack dedicated containers for plastic, unlike the well‑established streams for PET bottles, glass, cans, paper, cardboard, batteries, and coffee capsules. The lack of clear guidance has been cited as a source of confusion, particularly for foreign residents unfamiliar with Switzerland’s detailed waste‑sorting requirements.

The upcoming regulations are intended to simplify the recycling process, increase the overall recovery rate of plastic materials, and reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or incineration.

Article and image source: thelocal.ch