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 Implementation
Art. 44 Responsibilities of the Confederation and cantons
1 The cantons shall implement this Ordinance, unless they assign implementation to the Confederation. 2 If federal authorities are required to apply other federal acts or international law agreements or decisions that relate to matters regulated in this Ordinance, they shall also implement this Ordinance. Article 41 paragraphs 2 and 4 EPA govern the involvement of the FOEN and the cantons; statutory duties of confidentiality are reserved.
Art. 45 Geoinformation
The FOEN shall specify the minimum geodata models and representation models for basic geographical data under this Ordinance; in this respect it is designated as the specialist federal authority in Annex 1 to the Geoinformation Ordinance of 21 May 2008.
SR 510.620
Art. 46 FOEN implementation guide
The FOEN shall issue an implementation guide on the application of this Ordinance, and in particular on the state of the art for waste disposal. In doing so, it shall work with the federal agencies, cantons and private sector organisations concerned.
Section 2 Repeal and Amendment of other Legislatio
Art. 47 Repeal of other legislation
The Technical Ordinance on Waste of 10 December 1990 is repealed.
[AS 1991 169, 628; 1993 3022 No IV 4; 1996 905; 1998 2261 Art. 26; 2000 703 No II 15; 2004 3079 Art. 43 para. 2 No 2; 2005 2695 No II 11, 4199 Annex 3 No II 6; 2007 2929, 4477 No IV 32; 2008 2809 Annex 2 No 10, 4771 Annex No II 1; 2009 6259 No II III; 2011 2699 Annex 8 No II 1]
Art. 48 Amendment of other legislation
The amendment of other legislation is regulated in Annex 6.
Section 3 Transitional Provisions
Art. 49 and 50
Repealed by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, with effect from 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 51 Phosphorus-rich waste
1 The cantonal authority must incorporate plans for the recovery of phosphorus from phosphorus-rich waste into its sewage sludge disposal plan and waste management plan by 1 January 2028 and submit them to the FOEN. 2 From this point onwards, producers of sewage sludge and animal and bone meal must provide the competent cantonal authority with the proof required under Article 15b.
Art. 51 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 October 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745).
Art. 52 Excavated asphalt
1 Excavated asphalt containing more than 250 mg PAH per kg may be recovered in the course of construction work until 31 December 2025 provided: a. the excavated asphalt contains no more than 1000 mg PAH per kg and is mixed in appropriate facilities with other material so that it contains no more than 250 mg PAH per kg on recovery; or b. the excavated asphalt is used with consent the cantonal authority so that no emissions of PAH occur. The cantonal authority shall record the precise level of PAH in the excavated asphalt as well as the location of recovery and shall retain the information for at least 25 years. 2 Excavated asphalt containing more than 250 mg PAH per kg may be deposited until 31 December 2027 in a landfill of Type E. 3 Excavated asphalt containing may be deposited until 31 December 2027 in a landfill of Type B.
Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 23 Feb. 2022, in force since 1 April 2022 (AS 2022 161). Para. 3 — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Feb. 2022, in force since 1 April 2022 (AS 2022 161).
Art. 52a Wood ash
Filter ash and dust from the incineration of wood that is not wood fuel as defined in Annex 5 number 31 paragraph 2 of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance of 16 December 1985 (OAPC) may be deposited until 31 December 2033in landfills of types D and E (Annex 5 Nos 4.1 and 5.1).
Art. 52a — Inserted by No I of the O of 21 Sept. 2018 (AS 2018 3515). Amended by No I of the O of 26 Nov. 2025, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2025 799). SR 814.318.142.1
Art. 52b Dioxins and furans
Residues from the incineration of waste shall have as low a content of dioxins (PCDD) and furans (PCDF) as the state of the art permits (Annex 5 numbers 3.3 and 4.2). Until 31 December 2026, they may contain a maximum of 3 μg toxic equivalents (TEQ) per kg.
Art. 52b — Inserted by No I of the O of 23 Feb. 2022, in force since 1 April 2022 (AS 2022 161).
Art. 53 Existing landfills and compartments
1 Landfills and compartments that came into operation before this Ordinance comes into force may continue in operation provided the requirements for granting an operating licence in accordance with Article 40 are met by 31 December 2020 at the latest. 2 The cantonal authority shall assess by 31 December 2020 at the latest whether the landfills or compartments will cause harm or nuisance to the environment or whether they are likely to cause harm or nuisance within 50 years of closure (risk assessment). The proprietors of the landfills shall provide the authority with the data required for this purpose. 3 Where the risk assessment finds that a landfill or compartment is causing harm or nuisance to the environment or that there is a specific danger of such harm or nuisance, the landfill or compartment may not continue in operation unless improvements are made in accordance with the CSO. 4 Where the risk assessment finds that a landfill or compartment is likely to cause harm or nuisance w
Para. 3 — SR 814.680
Art. 54 Other existing waste disposal facilities
1 Waste disposal facilities other than landfills and compartments that come into operation before this Ordinance comes into force must satisfy the requirements of this Ordinance for structural modifications by 31 December 2020 at the latest. The other requirements apply from the date on which this Ordinance comes into force, subject to paragraphs 2 and 3. 2 The duty under Article 32 paragraph 2 letter a to use at least 55 per cent of the energy content of municipal waste and waste of similar composition in facilities for the incineration of waste applies from 1 January 2026. For facilities that will be decommissioned by 31 December 2035, the FOEN may grant exemptions to the canton and the operator on request. 3 The duty under Article 32 paragraph 2 letter g to recover metals from filter ash produced in the treatment of municipal waste and waste of similar composition applies from 1 January 2028. Until that date, filter ash may be deposited in hydraulically bound form without the recove
Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 25 June 2025, in force since 1 Aug. 2025 (AS 2025 453). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 26 Nov. 2025, in force since 1 Jan. 2026 (AS 2025 799). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 11 Dec. 2020, in force since 1 Jan. 2021 (AS 2020 6283).
Art. 54a Amendment of another enactment
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Art. 54a — Inserted by No I of the O of 29 Oct. 2025, in force since 1 Dec. 2025 (AS 2025 745). The amendment may be consulted under AS 2025 745.
Section 4 Commencement
Art. 55
This Ordinance comes into force on 1 January 2016.