Overview and History

PET-Recycling Switzerland PRS was founded in 1990 and has been involved in collecting PET drinks bottles since the Drinks Packaging Act (Verordnung über Getränkeverpackungen, VGV) came into force. Today there is a country wide disposal network for PET drinks bottles. It is a sector solution on a voluntary basis.

The recycling quota which was determined by the Swiss Federal department for environment, transport, energy and communication is as high as 75%. If the recycling quota is not reached then the Federal Office for Environment FOEN can impose a deposit on PET drinks packaging.

Within fifteen years PRS was able to increase the recycling quota to 78% - a result which both exceeded the results of the newspaper collectors and is also impressive in comparison with glass recycling (91%).

This success is the result of an optimal collaboration between the drinks industry, retail trade and end users.