Litter Federal Council wants to fine littering with up to 300 francs
Littering, the careless leaving of waste, is to be fined up to 300 francs nationwide in future. On Wednesday, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the necessary amendment to the Ordinance on Administrative Fines.
25.06.2025, 10:29
SDA
Parliament passed the legal basis for nationwide littering fines against the will of the Federal Council. The federal government is now proposing fines of up to 300 francs to implement the proposal.
According to the Federal Council, littering is defined as the throwing away or leaving lying around of small quantities of waste. Small quantities are defined as less than 35 liters of waste - a standard garbage bag. To ensure that the cantons have sufficient powers to impose fines on more serious litter offenders, the Federal Council is proposing two levels.
Anyone who leaves small quantities of waste lying around should be fined up to 200 francs. However, if it is between 35 and 110 liters of waste - a large garbage bag - the fine should be a maximum of 300 francs. This type of sanction will allow the cantons to keep administrative costs to a minimum, writes the Federal Council.
Interested parties have until October 16 to comment on the fine system. The majority of cantons already have cantonal or communal penalties for careless littering.
