General information

1. The Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment (EPA)

   This act distinguishes two categories of waste :

   • Municipal waste (household and non-hazardous industrial waste)
   • Other waste

   The distinction between these two waste types is important because the cantons must eliminate the former but are not directly responsible for the latter.

2. The principle is to create the necessary conditions to achieve the following objectives :

   • Minimize waste production
   • Recover as much as possible any unavoidable waste
   • Dispose of non-recoverable waste in accordance with environmental protection requirements