- In Switzerland, the regulations regarding the expansion of waste landfills are to be relaxed.
- Federal Councilor Albert Rösti’s Environment Department wants to change an ordinance and has opened a consultation until mid-April.
- There is not enough space for non-recyclable waste, which is why exceptions should be allowed.
The previous waste regulation specifically prohibits expansions of existing landfills in the area of usable underground waters and the peripheral areas necessary for their protection. With the adjustment of the regulation, it should be possible in the future to enlarge existing landfills in the water protection area in exceptional cases.
Potentially 32 landfill sites affected
The expansion of existing landfills is one way to counteract the tense situation, according to a statement from the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (Uvek). There are a total of 32 landfill sites in Switzerland that could be affected by the regulation. These include landfills for poorly soluble waste, slag from waste incineration and other waste up to certain limit values for organic matter.
Legend:
Residues from waste incineration or waste that cannot be recycled are deposited in approved landfills. In the picture: The Elbisgraben landfill facility in Arisdorf, 2021.
KEYSTONE / Georgios Kefalas
The cantons are responsible for waste planning. The federal government assumes that only a few landfills will benefit from the planned exemption.
Right of appeal for the “Free Landscape of Switzerland”
In addition, the “Free Landscape Switzerland” association should be included in the list of organizations that can submit an association complaint. The association had submitted a corresponding request. After a consultation, the Uvek announced in a report that the association met the requirements.
With the right of association to complain, “Free Landscape Switzerland” will in future be able to take legal action against projects that provide for the construction of wind turbines and which, in their opinion, do not comply with environmental protection or nature and heritage protection regulations. The federal government expects that the expansion of renewable energies could be slowed down.