Are bin bag prices in Switzerland likely to go up in 2026?

As waste incineration facilities in Switzerland aim to become carbon-neutral in the future, a national climate fee has been proposed which could double the price of bin bags in some Swiss cantons.

Why could the cost of bin bags increase in Switzerland?

Anyone wishing to get rid of household waste in Switzerland (anything that can’t be recycled) has to buy canton-specific bin bags (Abfallsäcke) found at Swiss supermarkets. The price of these garbage bags could increase sharply in the future to help fund planned upgrades to Switzerland’s waste incineration facilities, according to 20 Minuten.

There are currently around 30 waste incineration plants in Switzerland. And, as part of the federal government’s target to become climate-neutral by 2050, these facilities want to implement carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. CCS is where waste is burnt, and the CO2 extracted from the fumes is liquefied and stored in the North Sea bed. 

However, implementing CCS technology at these waste incineration plants could come at quite a steep price. A new facility is planned in Niederurnen, Glarus, with an annual cost of up to 40 million Swiss francs. 

To help cover costs, the waste management industry has proposed a new national climate fee. The fee would be 10 Swiss francs per ton of waste, and would result in an increase of five rappen per bin bag, according to 20 Minuten.

How much could bin bags cost in different Swiss cantons?

If plans go ahead, then families and households could see bin bag prices more than double in some Swiss cantons.

Basel residents could pay the most, with the price of a 35-litre bag increasing from 2,70 Swiss francs to 4,70 Swiss francs. In Zurich, residents could pay 3,60 Swiss francs per bin bag, and in St. Gallen almost 4,00 Swiss francs.

The good news is that in the long-term, the construction of a pipeline from Switzerland to northern Europe could reduce the overall cost of waste disposal and means that bin bag prices “are expected to rise so sharply only temporarily”, according to 20 Minuten. So far, there has been no confirmation on whether or not proposals will go ahead.