
Garbage disposal & recycling in Ticino
The Swiss are conscientious about recycling and follow a complex set of regulations. Unsurprisingly, they top world rankings for taking environmental action. Adapting to Switzerland's waste and recycling collection system requires time and effort but is good for your conscience, wallet and the environment.
In Ticino, either consortiums (consorzio) or communes coordinate waste collection. The Ticino waste & recycling department will provide more information on the responsible authority for each municipality.
In many southern municipalities, residents pay a yearly collection tax for household waste, in which case any garbage bag from supermarkets may be used. Some municipalities, more often in the northern areas, introduced an annual collection tax alongside the collection tax included in official garbage bags. Other communes do not charge extra for household waste collection.
In most communes, paper, cardboard and green waste is collected free of charge.
Glass bottles, jars and PET bottles can be brought to local recycling points.
Recycling collection containers for oil, glass, metals and textiles are available in most neighbourhoods at collection points called eco-centri or eco-punti.
Bulky items are either collected on a monthly basis, usually free of charge, or can be brought to a collection point.
Ticino's waste & recycling department provided the following overview for the larger cities. For other municipalities, refer to communal recycling and waste guidelines.
Lugano |
No garbage bag tax, no basis tax |
Large Eco-Centri in four neighbourhoods, where all kinds of waste and larger items can be delivered. |
Eco-Punti for paper, cardboard, glass, household waste and metal |
Annual collection tax only |
Eco-Centri for all waste |
Eco-Punti for paper, cardboard, glass, household waste and metal |
|
Locarno |
Annual collection tax only |
Eco-Centri for all waste |
Eco-Punti for paper, cardboard, glass, household waste and metal |
Basis tax + additional official garbage bags |
One large Eco-Centro for all waste |
Eco-Punti for paper, cardboard, glass, household waste and metal |