Travel

The Other Side of Switzerland That Tourists Can’t See

Where does all the trash go?

Every time I come to Switzerland, I find something new about this country.

My partner lives in Switzerland. He will be moving in October. So, when I arrived in August this year, I helped him sort out the house clutter.

A lot of things are either old or outdated that my partner doesn’t want to bring into the new home, such as cardboard, folders, old furniture, broken appliances, etc.

In Switzerland, the above items must be sent to a designated location for recycling. You can find nearby collection points with the recycling map, which groups 12,000 collection points for different recyclable materials across Switzerland.

Recycling is mandatory and failure to do so can result in severe fines of up to CHF 300.

So, we sent all these items in batches to a recycling facility not far from where we live, called Recycling Paradise, which turned out to be my most visited place in Switzerland this summer.

At first glance, Paradise may seem to be a misnomer. After all, this is nothing more than a collection station for recycling waste items.

But if you look closely, you will see that this place is very well organized.

It is a huge open warehouse. Square metal containers are neatly placed on the left, and the type of waste is marked above each container; on the right side is a conveyor belt that sends waste to larger containers underground.

Customers can park on the left or right depending on the type of waste they bring for easy unloading.

The staffs there are very welcoming. When they see a customer parked, they will take the initiative to say hello and help sort the rubbish from the car into different metal containers.

According to the website of recycling paradise

Over 90% of material fragments are free. Bulky cargo/waste, wood, greens, and crockery will be weighed and billed by weight. The minimum fee for paid materials is CHF 5.00.

One day we delivered an old bookshelf and a dozen folders, classified as wood, weighing about 40 kilos and costing 20 Swiss francs.

Some people say that Switzerland is a place worth visiting in a lifetime, with beautiful scenery and a place to enjoy life.

But do you know that the Swiss population is one of those who produce the most waste in the world?

Annual waste production more than doubled between 1970 and 2013, rising from 309 kg to 707 kg per person.

Over time, more and more waste has been certainly generated, but the Swiss have also become world champions in recycling.

Currently, 54% of the urban waste produced in Switzerland is recycled, which is higher than the European average of 28 percent (2015).

Recycling not only turns waste into treasure, but also saves resources, reduces thermal waste and CO2 emissions, and makes the sky bluer, water greener, and landscapes in Switzerland more attractive.

Welcome to Switzerland!

Thank you for reading! I am curious to know how your country deals with waste. Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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