Waste Ordinance (ADWO)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Section 1 General Regulations
Art. 7 Information and advice
1 The environmental protection agencies shall inform and advise private individuals and authorities on how to avoid producing waste and to dispose of waste. Among other issues, they shall provide information on the recovery of waste and on measures to avoid throwing away small quantities of waste or leaving it lying around. 2 Based on the reports from the cantons (Art. 6 para. 1), the FOEN shall publish reports on the quantities of waste disposed of throughout Switzerland and on existing waste disposal facilities as in Switzerland.
Art. 8 Training
In cooperation with the cantons and employment organisations, the Confederation shall ensure that persons carrying out activities in connection with the disposal of waste are taught the state of the art in their basic and continuing professional training.
Art. 9 Mixing ban
Waste of one types may not be mixed with other waste or with aggregates if this is primarily intended to reduce the pollutant or foreign substance content of the waste by dilution and thereby to comply with regulations on the consignment, recovery or landfill of waste.
Art. 9 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Feb. 2022, in force since 1 April 2022 (AS 2022 161).
Art. 10 Obligation to incinerate
Municipal waste and waste of similar composition, sewage sludge, combustible fractions of construction waste and other combustible waste must be incinerated in appropriate facilities, unless their constituents may be recovered.
Section 2 Avoidance of Waste
Art. 11
1 The FOEN and the cantons shall encourage the avoidance of waste through appropriate measures such as raising the awareness of and providing information to the public and businesses. In doing so, they shall work with the private sector organisations concerned. 2 Any person who manufactures products must organise the production processes according to the state of the art so that as little waste as possible is produced and any waste that is produced contains as few substances as possible that harm the environment.
Section 3 Recovery of Waste
Art. 12 General recovery obligation according to the state of the art
1 Waste must be recycled or recovered for energy provided recovery does less harm to the environment than: a. any other form of disposal; and b. the manufacture of new products or the acquisition of other heating fuels. 2 Recovery must be carried out according to the state of the art.
Art. 13 Municipal waste and waste of similar composition
1 The cantons shall ensure that that the recoverable parts of municipal waste such as glass, paper, cardboard, metals, garden waste and textiles are if possible collected separately and recycled. 2 They shall ensure that the following are collected and disposed of separately: a. special waste from households; b. non-business-specific special waste of up to 20 kg per collection from businesses and public authorities with fewer than 10 full-time employment positions. 3 They shall ensure that the infrastructure required to comply with paragraphs 1 and 2 is provided, and in particular that collection points are set up. If necessary they shall also ensure that regular collections are made. 4 The proprietors of waste from businesses with 250 or more full-time employment positions must as far as possible and reasonable collect and recycle the recoverable parts of their waste that are similar in their composition to municipal waste.
Para. 2 let. b — Amended by No I of the O of 12 Feb. 2020, in force since 1 April 2020 (AS 2020 801).
Art. 14 Biogenic waste
1 Biogenic waste must be recovered solely by recycling or by fermentation, provided: a. it is suitable for this purpose as a result of its properties, in particular its nutrient and pollutant content; b. it has been collected separately; and c. recovery is not prohibited by other provisions of federal law. 2 Biogenic waste that need not be recovered in accordance with paragraph 1 must as far as possible and reasonable simply be recovered for energy or incinerated in appropriate facilities. In doing so, its energy content must be used.
Art. 14a Wood waste
1 Wood waste that meets the requirements of Annex 7 number 1 may be used for recycling as composite wood. 2 Wood waste, that meets the requirements of Annex 7 number 2 may be thermally recycled in waste wood furnaces.
Art. 14a — Inserted by No I of the O of 16 Nov. 2022, in force since 1 Jan. 2023 (AS 2022 778).
Art. 15 Phosphorus-rich waste
1 Phosphorus must be recovered from municipal waste water, from sewage sludge from central waste water treatment plants and from the ash produced by the incineration of such sewage sludge, and then recycled. 2 Phosphorus in animal and bone meal must be recycled, unless the animal and bone meal is used as animal feedstuffs. 3 The provisions on the recycling of phosphorus-rich waste also apply to imported sewage sludge and imported animal and bone meal.
Art. 15 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 15a Recovery of phosphorus from phosphorus-rich waste
1 When recovering phosphorus from phosphorus-rich waste, the pollutants in the waste must be removed according to the state of the art. 2 When recovering phosphorus from municipal wastewater, sewage sludge from central waste water treatment plants and the ash produced by the incineration of such sewage sludge, at least 16 kilograms of phosphorus per tonne of sewage sludge dry matter must be recovered to meet domestic demand. 3 Phosphorus from animal and bone meal must be fully recovered.
Art. 15a — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 15b Proof of phosphorus recovery
1 Any person disposing of phosphorus-rich waste must provide the cantonal authority with proof that the prescribed amount of phosphorus is being recovered. 2 Where it is proven that the prescribed amount of phosphorus is being recovered from waste water, sewage sludge or sewage sludge ash, any excess sewage sludge may be recycled primarily for material and energy recovery and subsequently for energy recovery alone, without any phosphorus recovery. 3 If domestic treatment capacities for phosphorus recovery are insufficient to provide the proof required under paragraphs 1 and 2, waste producers shall provide the cantonal authorities with proof of the shortfall in treatment capacity. In such cases, the enforcement authority may grant authorisation primarily for the recycling of sewage sludge or animal and bone meal for material and energy recovery, and secondarily for the energy recovery alone.
Art. 15b — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 15c Reporting and verification of phosphorus recovery
1 The cantonal authority shall submit an annual report to the FOEN on: a. the quantities of sewage sludge dry matter and animal and bone meal that were recycled for phosphorus recovery; b. the quantity of phosphorus recovered; and c. the quantities of sewage sludge dry matter and animal and bone meal that were recycled for material and energy recovery or energy recovery alone. 2 Every 8–10 years, the FOEN, in consultation with the cantons and industry, shall review the adequacy of the quantity of phosphorus to be recovered in accordance with Article 15a paragraphs 2 and 3; it shall propose appropriate measures to DETEC.
Art. 15c — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 16 Information on the disposal of construction waste
1 In the case of construction work, when applying for the building permit, the builder must provide the authority responsible with information on the nature, quality and quantity of the waste produced and on the plans for its disposal if: a. it is probable that more than 200 m3 construction waste will be produced; or b. construction waste containing substances that are hazardous to the environment or to health, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead or asbestos, is expected. 2 If the builder has prepared a waste management plan in accordance with paragraph 1, it must prove to the authority responsible for the building permit at its request on completion of the construction work that the waste produced has been disposed of accordingly to the authority’s requirements.
Art. 17 Separation of construction waste
1 In the case of construction work, special waste must be separated and disposed of separately from other waste. The following construction waste must be kept separate on the construction site: a. removed topsoil and subsoil, if possible without being mixed; b. unpolluted excavated material, excavated material that satisfies the requirements of Annex 3 number 2, and other excavated material, if possible without being mixed; c. excavated asphalt, concrete rubble, road surface rubble, mixed rubble, brick rubble and plaster, if possible without being mixed; d. further recyclable waste such as glass, metals, timber and plastics, if possible without being mixed; e. combustible waste that is not recyclable; f. other waste. 2 If the separation of other construction waste on the construction site is not operationally possible, the waste must be separated in suitable facilities. 3 The authority may require further separation if additional parts of the waste may be recovered thereby.
Para. 2 — The correction of 19 July 2016 relates to the Italian text only (AS 2016 2629).
Art. 18 Removed topsoil and subsoil
1 Removed topsoil and subsoil must be recovered in full if possible provided: a. it is suitable for the intended recovery owing to its properties; b. it meets the benchmark values in Annexes 1 and 2 of the Ordinance of 1 July 1998 on the Pollution of Soil (SoilPO); and c. it does not contain foreign substances or invasive alien organisms. 2 In the case of recovery, the topsoil and subsoil must be processed in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 SoilPO.
Para. 1 let. b — SR 814.12
Art. 19 Excavated material
1 Excavated material that satisfies the requirements of Annex 3 number 1 (unpolluted excavated material), must be recovered to the fullest extent possible as follows: a. as construction material on building sites or landfills; b. as raw material for the manufacture of construction materials; c. for the refilling of material extraction sites; or d. for permitted landscaping work. 2 Excavated material that satisfies the requirements of Annex 3 number 2 must be recovered to the fullest extent possible as follows: a. as a raw material for the manufacture of hydraulic or bituminous bound construction materials; b. as construction material for landfills of Types B–E; c. as a raw material in the manufacture of cement clinker; d. in the case of civil engineering work, on the site where the material is produced, provided any treatment required for the material is carried out on or directly adjacent to the site; Article 3 of the Contaminated Sites Ordinance of 26 August 1998 (CSO) remains reserv
Para. 2 let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 12 Feb. 2020, in force since 1 April 2020 (AS 2020 801). Para. 2 let. d — Amended by No I of the O of 12 Feb. 2020, in force since 1 April 2020 (AS 2020 801). Para. 2 let. d — SR 814.680 Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 12 Feb. 2020, in force since 1 April 2020 (AS 2020 801). Para. 3 let. b — The correction of 19 July 2016 relates to the Italian text only (AS 2016 2629).
Art. 20 Mineral waste from the dismantling of buildings and other structures
1 Excavated asphalt containing up to 250 mg PAH per kg, concrete rubble, road surface rubble, mixed rubble, excavated material from railway tracks and brick rubble must to the fullest extent possible be recovered as raw material for the manufacture of construction materials. 2 Excavated asphalt containing more than 250 mg PAH per kg may not be not recovered. 3 …
Art. 20 — Amended by No I of the O of 25 June 2025, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 453). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 25 June 2025, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 453). Para. 3 — Repealed by No I of the O of 25 June 2025, with effect from 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 453).
Art. 21 Lightweight fraction from the shredding of waste containing metal
Metal fragments must be removed from the lightest fraction obtained by shredding waste containing metal (the lightweight fraction) and recycled.
Art. 22 Sludge and sweepings from street gullies
1 Recoverable parts such as chippings, sand and gravel must be separated from sludge and sweepings from street gullies that are primarily of mineral composition and recycled. 2 The remaining parts of street sweepings in accordance with paragraph 1 and other street sweepings, municipal waste or waste of similar composition or with high biogenic content must be incinerated in appropriate facilities.
Art. 23 Electric arc furnace slag
Electric arc furnace slag may only be recovered with the consent of the cantonal authority if: a. recovery is carried out in the course of construction work in hydraulically or bituminously bound form or under a surface impermeable to water; and b. the electric arc furnace slag originates from the manufacture of unalloyed or low alloyed steels subsequent to 1989.
Art. 23 — The correction of 3 Oct. 2017 relates to the French text only (AS 2017 5137). The correction of 3 Oct. 2017 relates to the French text only (AS 2017 5137).
Art. 24 Recovery of waste in the production of cement and concrete
1 Waste may be used as a raw material, as raw meal corrective substances, as heating fuels or as additives or aggregates in the production of cement and concrete provided it satisfies the requirements under Annex 4. However, mixed municipal waste may not be used as a raw material or as a heating fuel even if collected and subsequently sorted. Sorting residues resulting from the treatment of separately collected municipal waste that cannot be recovered may be used as fuel in the manufacture of cement and concrete. 2 Dusts from the exhaust filtering at facilities producing cement clinker must be recovered as aggregates for grinding cement clinker or as additives in the production of cement. The heavy metal content of the cement produced must not exceed the limit values in Annex 4 number 3.2.
Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 25 June 2025, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 453).
Section 4 Landfilling of Waste
Art. 25 General regulations
1 Waste may only be deposited in landfills if the landfills satisfy the requirements of Annex 5. The construction and operating licence may include additional restrictions. 2 If landfills comprise two or more compartments separated by structural measures, the requirements for the deposit of each type of waste apply to the compartment in which the respective type is deposited. 3 Liquid, explosive, infectious and combustible waste may not be deposited.
Art. 25 — Inserted by No II 1 of the O of 25 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 5963).
Art. 25a Mercury waste
1 Mercury waste in terms of Article 3 letter fbis numbers 1 and 2 are environmentally compatible and must be disposed of according to the state of the art. 2 Mercury waste in terms of Article 3 letter fbis number 3 are environmentally compatible and must be treated and deposited according to the state of the art.
Art. 25a — Inserted by No II 1 of the O of 25 Oct. 2017, in force since 1 Jan. 2018 (AS 2017 5963).