Federal government wants to facilitate the expansion of landfills
Published: Thursday, Dec 28th 2023, 17:41
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In Switzerland, the regulations on the expansion of landfill sites are to be relaxed. Federal Councillor Albert Rösti's Department of the Environment wants to amend an ordinance to this end and has opened a consultation process until mid-April, as announced on Thursday.
With this relaxation, the federal government wants to counteract the lack of landfill space for the disposal of non-recyclable waste. The expansion of existing landfills is one way of counteracting the tense situation, according to a statement from the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC).
The current Waste Ordinance specifically prohibits the expansion of existing landfills in the area of usable underground waters and the peripheral areas necessary for their protection. With the amendment to the ordinance, it should be possible in future to enlarge existing landfills in exceptional cases, even in the water protection area.
In Switzerland, there are a total of 32 landfill sites, for example for poorly soluble waste, slag from waste incineration and other waste up to certain organics limits, which could potentially be affected by the ordinance. The cantons are responsible for waste planning. The federal government assumes that only a few landfills will make use of the planned exemption.
Right of appeal for additional association
In addition, the Swiss Free Landscape Association is to be included in the list of organizations that can submit an association complaint. After the association submitted an application to this effect, the Federal Department of Transport and Communications also sent the amended ordinance on the designation of organizations entitled to lodge complaints in the area of environmental protection and the protection of nature and cultural heritage out for consultation.
The Uvek stated in its report that the association met the requirements. The association's right of appeal will enable Freie Landschaft Schweiz to take legal action against projects that provide for the construction of wind turbines and which, in its opinion, do not comply with environmental protection or nature and heritage protection regulations. The federal government expects that the expansion of renewable energies could be slowed down.
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