Disposing of green waste: what is accepted?

The basic rule is to use green waste collections for untreated material that decomposes naturally. In the garden, that includes:

• Garden waste: grass cuttings, leaves, hedge and shrub trimmings, weeds, dead flowers and potted plants, plus branches and twigs cut into small pieces.
• Plant remains: garden fruit and vegetable waste, fallen fruit and grape pomace.
• Small amounts of soil: soil attached to roots is acceptable. Depending on the municipality, loose potting soil may need a separate collection point or may be accepted in small quantities.

Cut thicker branches and tree prunings into smaller pieces so they break down fast enough at the composting plant. Many collection points accept larger branches separately for processing into wood chips for heating.

Kitchen waste is the biggest difference between municipal schemes. Many Swiss municipalities collect it with green waste and send it to a digestion plant that produces biogas and compost. Their accepted materials usually include fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and paper filters, tea bags, eggshells, bread and, in many areas, cooked leftovers, meat and fish.

Other municipalities accept garden waste only. Follow their waste guide: food scraps they do not accept belong in residual waste. Compost only suitable plant material at home; keep meat and fish off an open garden compost heap.

Use only bags your municipality explicitly accepts. “Biodegradable” alone is not enough. FOEN explains the grid marking on suitable bags and the differences from home composting. Ordinary plastic bags do not belong in green waste.

• Never include: ordinary plastic, cat litter, pet waste, nappies, ash, vacuum cleaner contents or cigarette ends.
• Treated wood: painted, stained or impregnated wood, chipboard and garden furniture are not green waste. Take them to a suitable collection point or arrange bulky waste disposal.
• Liquids: oil, sauces and soups make the material clump and interfere with composting. Absorb small amounts with kitchen paper and put them in residual waste instead.

Green waste arrangements vary considerably across Switzerland. Cities and surrounding urban areas usually have regular collections. Put your green waste bin, container or official paper sacks at the roadside on the specified day. Collections are often weekly during the gardening season, with fewer or no collections in winter.

Rural areas more often use drop-off schemes. The municipality provides a green waste collection point or container site where residents can bring garden waste free of charge or for an annual fee. Many municipalities can arrange hired containers for larger amounts, collecting them once filled. If you have a garden, you can compost some material yourself. Grass cuttings and leaves are suitable, while cooked food on an open compost heap can attract rats and foxes.

Charges follow the same polluter-pays principle as residual waste, but are considerably lower. Collection fees and official green waste sacks cost a fraction of residual waste sacks, and many municipal collection points accept household quantities free of charge. Putting green waste in residual waste is prohibited in most cantons and adds unnecessary weight to the more expensive sack.

A few habits help prevent smells and maggots in summer: wrap wet kitchen waste in newspaper, keep the bin in the shade with its lid closed, and line the bottom with cardboard or coarse garden cuttings. Empty your kitchen container every one or two days and rinse it regularly.

Remember to put the bin out on time, especially in spring when gardening starts again and collections become more frequent. To help you remember your municipality's green waste collection day, BinMinder sends a free reminder the evening before.