Switzerland’s strong recycling culture has generated raw materials and created thousands of jobs, says a report presented in Bern on Monday.
For a country like Switzerland, which has few raw materials, recycling saves millions of francs in imports, according to the report drawn up by the Swiss Recycling association.
In 2009 the Swiss collected nearly 70,000 tonnes of aluminium worth SFr140 million ($165 million).
The same year 850,000 tonnes of scrap iron, 331,507 tonnes of glass, 37,543 tonnes of PET plastic, 11,760 tonnes of tinplate and 7,000 tonnes of copper were recycled.
It also led to 3,947 new jobs in 2008.
An efficient sorting and collection system and good “collection discipline” among ordinary people, means that more than half of all household waste is recycled. “Our country is the world champion in recycling,” stated Energy Minister Doris Leuthard in the report.
Swiss Recycling is the umbrella organisation for seven recycling organisations specialising in different materials. However, it does not include organisations collecting paper and cardboard or compost.
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