Geneva bans sale of single-use plastic on public land
Starting in 2020, the city of Geneva will prohibit the sale of disposable plastics at events as well as at sales points on public property – a year ahead of a similar EU ban.
The new law will apply to kiosks, terraces, vending vans and ice cream parlours, as well as to all city-approved events held on public property. Banned products include plastic straws, cutlery, cups and other disposable containers, which are generally difficult to recycle in Switzerland.
“I hope that operators will really play the game,” the member of the centrist Christian Democratic Party said. Those who don’t obey the ban will face fines and perhaps lose their permits to do business on public land.
Businesses now have the rest of the year to find alternative materials and use up any throwaway plastics in stock.
With this ban, the city of Geneva is following the example of the European Union, which has decided to ban a number of disposable plastic products from 2021. As a non-member, Switzerland announced in June 2018 that it wouldn’t take on a nationwide ban, saying it would prefer to see solutions within the industry.
Last month, the canton of Geneva banned the free distribution of plastic shopping bags.
More
More
Are companies and consumers ready to shun plastic?
This content was published on
The massive amount of plastic pollution has ignited public concern as well as debate in Davos, but the real work is still to come.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
This content was published on
Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
This content was published on
Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
This content was published on
2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
This content was published on
The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
This content was published on
More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
This content was published on
Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland has no intention of banning single-use plastics
This content was published on
While the European Union intends to ban plastic straws, single-use cutlery, and other disposable plastics, the Swiss government has no plans to follow suit.
How Swiss businesses are fighting the plight of microplastics
This content was published on
Plastic is a problem for the environment also in areas where one would not suspect to find it. The Swiss industry is fighting back.
Plastic: How can the Swiss use so much and recycle so little?
This content was published on
Switzerland consumes three times as much plastic as EU countries, but recycles 30% less. Bans on plastic in the EU and China may change that.
This content was published on
For 30 days, swissinfo.ch journalist Susan Misicka saved all of her plastic garbage, but found that not even half of it could be recycled.
This content was published on
Rules in place since 2017 stipulate that plastic must not exceed 0.1% of the dry weight of compost thrown away by members of the public for recycling.
This content was published on
The decision by Switzerland’s main supermarkets to charge CHF0.05 ($0.05) per plastic bag has led to demand plummeting by around 80%.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.