Bulky Waste Rules in Zurich: Changes After Free Vouchers End

For decades, Zurich households opened their annual ERZ mailing and found four coupons worth 400 kg of free bulky waste disposal. Since May 2025, that envelope contains no coupons at all, just a small fee-included refuse bag. If you've noticed the change and aren't sure what it actually means for your next Recyclinghof trip, you're not alone.

This guide walks through exactly what changed, why the city made the decision, what a disposal trip costs now, and which options are still genuinely free. If you're looking for bulky waste disposal in Zurich, it also explains how a fixed-price professional pickup can help you avoid the new per-kilo costs and collection uncertainty.

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What Actually Changed, and When

Zurich's free disposal coupons, distributed annually to every household, allowed up to 400 kg of Sperrgut, metal, and Grubengut per year to be dropped off free of charge at the Looächer and Werdhölzli Recyclinghöfe. The last batch, issued in November 2023, remained valid until 30 April 2025. Since 1 May 2025, drop-offs at both sites have required payment, and no further coupons have been issued.

Why the City Ended the Free Vouchers

The city administration argued the coupon system conflicted with the federal Umweltschutzgesetz (USG), which requires waste financing to follow a cost-by-usage principle: whoever disposes of more should pay more, rather than everyone funding the coupons equally through the base waste fee regardless of how much they actually threw away.

The decision was not uncontroversial. Zurich's city parliament (Gemeinderat) initially opposed an immediate abolition and referred the matter back to the city government via a postulate. Centre-right parties later pushed for a reinstated free allowance of up to 200 kg through a parliamentary initiative, while other parties favoured different approaches; as of the most recent reporting, that attempt to bring back a free allowance did not succeed, and the fee-based system introduced in May 2025 remains in place.

What a Recyclinghof Visit Costs Now

•      CHF 22.70 per 100 kg for the first load of Sperrgut, metal, or Grubengut delivered in a visit

•      CHF 19.45 per 100 kg for any further load in the same visit

•      The ERZ Abholservice home pickup remains priced separately at CHF 86.50 per 15-minute loading block, plus the same weight-based fee

•      The Sperrgutmarke kerbside sticker system is unaffected by this change and still costs around CHF 9 per piece, covering items up to 25 kg

Key Takeaway

The coupon abolition specifically affects self-delivered drop-offs at the two staffed Recyclinghöfe. It does not change Sperrgutmarke pricing, and it doesn't touch the genuinely free neighbourhood options described below.

What's Still Free

The city has framed the change as a shift toward decentralised, car-free disposal options rather than a pure cost increase, and several routes remain free of charge:

•      Mobile Recyclinghof: roughly 18 to 19 locations citywide as of the latest count, with plans to expand toward 30 locations by 2026, free for anyone arriving on foot, by cargo bike, or with a handcart (borrowed on-site at no cost); car drop-off is not permitted

•      Cargo-Tram and E-Tram: free neighbourhood collection points, though these are being phased out in favour of the mobile Recyclinghof network

•      Tauschplatz: a swap corner at collection points where still-usable items can be left for others or taken home for free

•      Standard Züri-Sack household refuse, paper, cardboard, and bio-waste collection remain unaffected and unchanged

Before and After: What's Different

What This Means in Practice

For a household with a car and no time pressure, the free mobile Recyclinghof network is still a genuinely cost-free option, provided the load is small enough to carry on foot, by bike, or with a handcart. For anything larger, mixed, or urgent, whether that's furniture from an apartment clearance or a basement that's been ignored for years, the new per-kilo fee at the staffed Recyclinghof, or the per-block Abholservice charge, adds a layer of cost uncertainty that didn't exist under the coupon system.

That's exactly the gap a fixed-price professional pickup closes. With disposal.ch, the price is confirmed by WhatsApp photo before booking, so the per-kilo fee change has no effect on what you'll actually pay. Our team also handles the recycling and donation routing on your behalf, whether that's material heading to a Recyclinghof, a Brockenhaus, or certified e-waste processing.

A Real-World Scenario

A household clearing out a garage after years of accumulation used to plan the trip around the annual coupon allowance. Post-2025, that same load now costs real money at the Recyclinghof regardless of timing, which is exactly when a single fixed-price quote, confirmed in advance, becomes the more predictable option.

Conclusion

Zurich's free disposal coupons ended for good in April 2025, replaced by a per-kilo fee at the city's Recyclinghöfe and unchanged pricing for the Sperrgutmarke and ERZ Abholservice. The genuinely free options, the mobile Recyclinghof network, Cargo-Tram, and Tauschplatz, remain available for small, car-free loads. For anything larger or time-sensitive, a fixed-price pickup removes the new cost uncertainty entirely, with one confirmed number instead of a per-kilo surprise at the till.

Get a fixed-price quote for your disposal or clearance in Zurich today, send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll confirm your price within the hour. Book your fixed-price pickup here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When did Zurich's free disposal vouchers end?

The last coupons, issued in November 2023, expired on 30 April 2025. Since 1 May 2025, Recyclinghof drop-offs have required payment, and no further coupons have been distributed.

Why did the city end the free vouchers?

The city stated the coupon system conflicted with the federal Umweltschutzgesetz's cost-by-usage principle, since all households funded the coupons equally regardless of how much waste they actually disposed of.

How much does Recyclinghof disposal cost now?

CHF 22.70 per 100 kg for the first load and CHF 19.45 per 100 kg for further loads in the same visit, for Sperrgut, metal, and Grubengut.

Is any bulky waste disposal still free in Zurich?

Yes. The mobile Recyclinghof network and Cargo-Tram remain free for loads brought on foot, by cargo bike, or handcart, though car drop-off isn't permitted at these locations.

Could the free vouchers come back?

A later push by centre-right parties for a reinstated 200 kg free allowance did not succeed, so as of the most recent reporting, the fee-based system remains in place.