Goals / Current status

According to the Drinks Packaging Act (VGV) PET drinks bottles must be collected in Switzerland.

The recycling quota which was determined by the Swiss Federal department for environment, transport, energy and communication (UVEK) was 75%. If the recycling quota is not reached then UVEK can impose a deposit on PET drinks packaging or take further measures such as a state Advance Disposal Fee (staatlich vorgezogene Entsorgungsgebühr, ADF). The so called Advance Recycling Fee ARF (vorgezogener Recyclingbeitrag) will be levied to fund PET recycling.

Within fifteen years the recycling quota for PET recycling in Switzerland was able to be increased 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.