Waste disposal

Garbage disposal requires time and attention in Aarau. The first thing is to get a copy of your city’s garbage calendar and try to understand it, then bear in mind the type of trash you want to throw away. This is important because some trash is collected and other you have to drop on special sites. If you put your garbage out too early or in the wrong bag, you may be subject to a fine...you may be called to the police station to identify your trash. Fines for setting the trash out too early the night before can reach…CHF 250!!

So …Bear in mind the following:

1)       Bags:

Trash bags have to be from Aarau. You can buy them at the local council or in any supermarket…they are not accessible so you have to ask the cash lady and ahe will provide them to you!!! The prices depend on the size:

Liters	Number of bags	Price
17 liters	10 units	CHF 13,90
35 liters	10 units	CHF 21,20
60 liters	10 units	CHF 33,00
110 liters	5 units	CHF 28,45

2)       Paper placement

Recycling paper is another ritual. You must tie it up with strings in neat packages no higher than about six inches before putting it outside. Don’t stick it all in a paper box or bag and put outside as your paper will not be picked up and it will be plastered with a sticker stating your error.

You can of course but all you paper in a regular trash bag (remember bags from point 1)…but I recommend we all help the environment a little and recycle!!

3)       Collection days and trash type:

Garbage	Thursdays (Süd, Damm and Rohr) Fridays (North Quarter). This is the regular basis, but note there might be exception on those days that there is a public holiday (check the garbage calendar)
Plants	Mondays (Süd and Damm) Tuesdays (North and Rohr)
Paper	Once a month (always on a Wednesday)
Metal	Four times a year (always on a Wednesday)

4)       Drop in retail:

-          PET bottles: this is restricted to bottles (plastic is NOT included…and if you by mistake put plastic I can give faith that someone will vigorously tell you off)

-          Batteries

-          Energy-saving lamps, fluorescent tubes, bulbs

-          Toxic and chemical drugs (these can be dropped in pharmacies and drugstores)

All of these may seem weird and complicated in the beginning when you first look at it, but if everybody does it and the system works…it can’t be so complicated!! Remember Switzerland is one of the countries with the most efficient recycling procedures!!

I encourage you to try and discover it’s not so hard ;)