Switzerland's plastic recycling crisis sparks calls for stricter rules and innovation
Switzerland's New Paid Recycling Bag Aims to Boost Plastic Collection Rates
Switzerland's new fee-based plastic recycling bag, the RecyBag, is designed to increase household plastic recycling—currently, only three percent of domestic plastic waste is reprocessed. Environmental group Greenpeace and the Swiss Consumer Protection Foundation have criticized plastic recycling as inefficient or even "greenwashing." But how effective is plastic recycling, really? Researchers remain divided on the issue.
The Struggle of Plastic Recycling: A Tough Market
Cheap imports from China and the U.S. have made plastic recycling unprofitable. The industry is now pinning its hopes on new regulations that would mandate the use of recycled plastic in products. Kassensturz host André Ruch visits Austria's largest plastic sorting facility—where much of Switzerland's plastic is processed—and Innoplastics, a pioneer in plastic recycling.
Smart Packaging: Designing for Recycling
Plastic products are far easier to recycle when made from clearly defined, uniform materials. The Bachmann Group is working to create packaging optimized for recycling from the start—but faces resistance within the industry.
