How to Dispose of a Carpet or Rug in Zurich

Anyone in Kreis 6 (Oberstrass district) who wants to pull up an old fitted carpet before a renovation sees one thing first: glued strips on the floor. If you need carpet disposal in Zurich, one question comes first: is it a loose rug or a fitted carpet?

Household waste counts as municipal waste (Siedlungsabfälle) under the Verordnung über die Vermeidung und die Entsorgung von Abfällen (VVEA), the Swiss waste ordinance. Under the Umweltschutzgesetz (USG), the Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment, the cantons are responsible, and in practice the municipalities.

This guide separates loose rugs from fitted carpet and shows what each option costs. Status: October 2026. The Mobile Recycling Centre is replacing the Entsorgungstram (cargo tram), which made its last run on 20 October 2026.

You can dispose of a loose rug in Zurich free at the ERZ Mobile Recycling Centre, for a weight-based fee at a recycling centre, through the ERZ pickup service, by passing it on, or with pickup from your flat. A fitted carpet must first be lifted, and with suspected asbestos only a specialist may do it.

Carpet Disposal in Zurich: What Counts as Bulky Waste?

A carpet usually counts as Sperrgut (bulky waste) in Zurich because rolled up it does not fit into the Züri-Sack, the official city rubbish bag. ERZ advises taking bulky waste to a recycling centre or the Mobile Recycling Centre. Source: City of Zurich, bulky waste.

For the ERZ pickup service, no single piece may be longer than 2.5 m or heavier than 40 kg. Source: City of Zurich, bulky waste collection. Wide fitted carpet therefore has to be cut into strips and rolled. Runners and carpet tiles count as well.

For what else counts as bulky waste, see bulky waste in Zurich. The table sorts the most common cases.

Type of carpet	Typical situation	Route
Loose rug, runner	Already rolled or easy to roll	All five options; keep rolls under 2.5 m and 40 kg
Fitted carpet	Glued or tacked, must be lifted from the floor	Lift it yourself or have us lift it, then dispose
Underlay	Often sticks to the subfloor	Remove too and dispose of separately
Wet or mouldy carpet	After water damage or damp	Ask first and send photos

Condition decides: a dry, loose rug is easy. Glued flooring and wet carpet need more planning.

Five Options at a Glance: Cost, Lead Time and Effort

Only the Mobile Recycling Centre is free, the recycling centre is cheap if the load is light, and only Disposal.ch lifts a fitted carpet from the floor. The table compares all five options.

Option	Cost	Lead time	Who carries	Best if
1. Mobile Recycling Centre (ERZ)	Free	Check location and date; usually every five weeks for four hours per stop	You, on foot, without a car	You have a few rolled rugs
2. Recycling centre Werdhölzli or Looächer	CHF 22.70 for the first 100 kg, CHF 19.45 per further 100 kg (2024 rates)	None, but check opening hours	You, with your own transport	You have a car and helpers
3. ERZ pickup service	CHF 86.50 per quarter hour of loading time	3 working days recommended, Monday to Friday only	You, down to the pavement	The carpet is already lifted and rolled
4. Pass it on	No fee	Ask in advance	The taker or you	The rug is clean and in good condition
5. Pickup and removal (Disposal.ch)	Fixed price after your photos	Same or next day in most cases, seven days a week	Our team, from any floor	Fitted carpet, a large area or a tight deadline

The city fees come from the City of Zurich media release of September 2024 and may have changed. The free 400 kg vouchers no longer exist, see bulky waste rules after the free vouchers ended.

Loose Rugs and Runners: How to Get Them Out

Check first that the rug is dry: damp rugs are much heavier and exceed 40 kg sooner. Roll loose rugs and runners tightly, tie them with string and keep each roll under 2.5 m and 40 kg. They then fit the ERZ pickup service or can be carried to the Mobile Recycling Centre.

The Mobile Recycling Centre accepts bulky waste, metal and electrical appliances free of charge. According to ERZ, it usually stops at each location every five weeks for four hours. There are 31 locations today, and 33 are planned from early 2027. Source: City of Zurich media release, October 2026.

A clean rug in good condition can go to the swap point at the Mobile Recycling Centre. Our principle is Spende zuerst, Transport danach (donate first, transport second): we check every pickup for pieces that can be passed on.

Fitted Carpet: Lift It Yourself or Have It Lifted?

Fitted carpet is often more work than expected, because glue, underlay and dust come with it. If you lift it yourself, you need time, tools and space for the cut rolls. For carpet across several rooms, estimate the effort realistically in advance.

In older buildings, glue, underlay and floor tiles can contain asbestos. If you suspect it, remove nothing yourself and have a licensed specialist company check the material. See asbestos in old furniture or flooring for what to check.

Disposal.ch lifts fixed, glued or tacked carpet from the floor and, on request, removes the underlay. Skirting boards and door frames are protected. Cleaning is not included and can be booked separately.

We do not collect asbestos-containing materials, active chemicals and gases, or certain contaminated materials. These require a licensed specialist company. If you suspect asbestos in the floor or the glue, do not start the work.

What Does Carpet Disposal in Zurich Really Cost?

The cost depends less on the carpet itself than on area, fixing and access. ERZ prices by loading time or weight. The Mobile Recycling Centre has no fee, but you lift, roll and carry yourself. Glued floors often leave glue residue that must be removed before the new floor goes in.

With Disposal.ch you receive a fixed price after sending photos, and you know it before the appointment. The table lists the usual factors. We give no CHF range here, because a fair price needs photos.

Cost factor	Why it matters
Area	More square metres mean more rolls, more weight and more time.
Type of fixing	Loose, tacked or glued: glued flooring takes far more effort.
Underlay	If it sticks to the subfloor, it is lifted and disposed of separately.
Floor and lift	A third-floor flat without a lift means more carrying.
Condition	Wet or mouldy carpet needs special handling.
Time pressure	Tradespeople starting the same day need more planning than an appointment in two weeks.

 

Send a photo of the floor, the area in square metres, the type of fixing and the floor number. This usually lets us confirm a fixed price within an hour.

Step by Step: Getting Your Carpet Ready

Five steps get a carpet out of your flat without stress and without unnecessary risk.

1.       Check condition and fixing: Find out whether the carpet is loose, tacked or glued and whether it is dry. Photograph the floor and the edges.

2.       Check for asbestos: In an older building, ask your property manager or a specialist company before you lift anything.

3.       Choose an option: Compare the table above by cost, lead time and effort. Treat your handover date or the start of the tradespeople as the fixed deadline.

4.       Secure an appointment: Phone ERZ, or send photos via WhatsApp to +41 76 413 61 83 for a fixed price.

5.       Prepare for collection: Roll loose rugs to under 2.5 m and 40 kg and keep the stairwell and entrance clear.

Disposal.ch in Zurich: Pickup and Removal at a Fixed Price

Disposal.ch collects your carpet from your flat, lifts fitted flooring from the floor on request and quotes a fixed price in advance. Send photos via WhatsApp, and you usually receive your quote within an hour.

Before the Wohnungsabgabe (move-out handover with your property manager), some property managers want the carpet removed and the floor broom-clean (besenrein). Your property manager sets the requirements. For tenancy law questions, ask them or a legal adviser.

Pickup is possible on the same or next day in most cases, seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. Our team is bilingual in German and English, which helps if you are new to Swiss waste rules. The team is insured.

We serve all 12 city districts (Kreise) of Zurich, for example Kreis 6 (Oberstrass district) and Kreis 11 (Oerlikon district). We also cover Winterthur, Uster, Dübendorf, Schlieren, Dietikon, Kloten, Bülach, Horgen, Thalwil and Küsnacht, plus Aargau, Luzern and Zug.

In a renovation, one appointment often covers several items: wood disposal, furniture disposal or an apartment clearance.

Disposal.ch is a pickup and transport service. We do not operate our own recycling plant. We deliver your items to certified partners.

Conclusion

There is no single best way to dispose of a carpet in Zurich. Loose rugs go free to the Mobile Recycling Centre, fitted carpet must first be lifted. With suspected asbestos, a specialist decides, not you.

With glued flooring, a large area or a tight deadline, pickup with removal saves time and effort. Questions about carpet disposal in Zurich? Send us photos via WhatsApp and get a no-obligation quote.

The information in this article is for general guidance. Rules and fees can differ by municipality and canton and may change. Please check with your local authority before disposing, or ask us.

 

Disposal.ch collects seven days a week in Zurich, Aargau, Luzern and Zug. Send photos via WhatsApp to +41 76 413 61 83 and you usually get a fixed price within one hour. No obligation.

Request a quote  |  Send photos via WhatsApp

Kind regards, The Disposal.ch Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Which rule applies to carpet disposal in Zurich?

A carpet from a household counts as municipal waste under the Verordnung über die Vermeidung und die Entsorgung von Abfällen (VVEA). The Umweltschutzgesetz (USG) makes the cantons responsible, and in the city of Zurich, Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich (ERZ) runs the collection. ERZ pickups accept single pieces up to 2.5 m in length and 40 kg.

How much does it cost to dispose of a carpet in Zurich?

It depends on the route. The Mobile Recycling Centre is free, a recycling centre charged CHF 22.70 for the first 100 kg according to the City of Zurich, and ERZ pickup costs CHF 86.50 per quarter hour of loading time. Disposal.ch gives a fixed price after your photos, based on area, fixing and access.

How fast can pickup happen?

With Disposal.ch, pickup is possible on the same or next day in most cases, seven days a week. You usually receive a fixed price within one hour of sending photos. The ERZ pickup service runs Monday to Friday only and recommends three working days of notice.

Do you serve Winterthur or Aargau?

Yes. Disposal.ch collects in all 12 city districts of Zurich, as well as Winterthur, Uster, Dübendorf, Schlieren, Dietikon, Kloten, Bülach, Horgen, Thalwil and Küsnacht, plus the cantons of Aargau, Luzern and Zug. Send your postcode via WhatsApp and we will confirm the visit.

What can you not collect?

We do not collect asbestos-containing materials, active chemicals and gases, or certain contaminated materials. These require a licensed specialist company. If you suspect asbestos in the floor or the glue, do not lift anything yourself. For wet or mouldy carpets, please ask us before booking, ideally with a photo.