Hey Swiss people, please help me solve an argument with my wife. Is it ok to put “rPET 1” and/or “PP5” plastic into PET plastic recycling disposal containers? If not, are there other types of plastic that you can dispose of here? See attached pics.
by FantoMax2000
4 comments
No PET is only for the ones that have the PET sign on them (i.e. bottles).
https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home/topics/waste/guide-to-waste-a-z/pet-beverage-containers.html
all other plastic gets burned in regular trash, at least where I live. might be different based on your municipality
You can only recycle plastic labelled with “PET” or the recycle symbol and a number “1” (this is just shorthand for PET plastics) in these bins. “rPET” just means it is recycled PET, so it’s ok.
Anything else with the “recycle” symbol and a number 2 or higher, or some other letters, like HDPE, PP, etc. is not recycleable in these bins. You may find more recycling options in your local grocery store, where you can typically recycle milk bottle plastics (often HDPE) and some others.
The vast majority of plastics in Switzerland are incinerated, even if they are put in bins to be recycled, because it is *extremely* cost prohibitive (to the point it’s nearly impossible) to recycle most plastics. Those “recycle” symbols are just a ploy by the plastics industry to make it appear that their products are eco-friendly, when they aren’t.
It’s just burning fossil fuels for electricity with an extra step.
🛢️ > ♻️ > 🔥 >💡
No! It’s not okay.
We do not really recycle any plastics in Switzerland, except PET.
PP is Polypropylen.