Switzerland – Refuse disposal and treatment

Zurich Waste Management and Recycling (ERZ) is responsible for collecting recyclable materials such as textiles in the city of Zurich. This obligation stems from Article 3(b) and Article 8(2) of the Ordinance on Waste Management in the City of Zurich (VAZ, AS 712.110). However, ERZ cannot handle the further processing of textiles itself, which is why it must outsource the acceptance and further processing of these recyclables to a third party for a fee, subject to defined specifications. ERZ intends to collect textiles and shoes (usable and clean, unusable) at the recycling collection points (WST) within the city limits and to contract out the sorting and processing to a single provider. The tendered service includes the acceptance, sorting, and processing of textiles and shoes collected by ERZ in the city of Zurich. The supplier sorts and recycles the textiles and shoes (usable and unusable) collected by ERZ according to the principles of the circular economy. Achieving these goals depends on various factors beyond the control of ERZ and the supplier, including technological advancements and market demand for circular economy products. ERZ aims to be a pioneer in the recycling of textiles and shoes according to the principles of ecological recycling and the circular economy and intends to enter into a long-term partnership with the supplier for this purpose. The supplier commits to working towards this system of objectives and achieving the agreed-upon goals to the extent that this is technologically and market-wise feasible.