Swiss still throw out too much food: study
Despite improved recycling habits, food that could be composted still accounts for almost a third of Swiss household garbage, says the federal environment office, which is urging a change in habits.
An analysis of domestic trash from 2012 found that food waste amounted to 32 percent of all the garbage collected.
That works out to be about 30 kilograms of food stuff per person, the environment office said on Tuesday.
A change in behaviour is needed at all levels, said the office, which noted that half the discarded food was still edible.
Research showed that a significant number of people were continuing to throw out newspapers and other paper (220,000 tonnes) that should have been put in the recycling bin.
Officials also found 60,000 tonnes of recyclable glass in the garbage.
All told the study found that a fifth of the overall amount of rubbish thrown out by Swiss residents is matter that can be made use of.
The analysis, conducted every 10 years, was based on a study of 16.5 tonnes of garbage collected by 33 municipalities in urban as well as rural areas.
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An analysis of domestic trash from 2012 found that food waste amounted to 32 percent of all the garbage collected.
That works out to be about 30 kilograms of food stuff per person, the environment office said on Tuesday.
A change in behaviour is needed at all levels, said the office, which noted that half the discarded food was still edible.
Research showed that a significant number of people were continuing to throw out newspapers and other paper (220,000 tonnes) that should have been put in the recycling bin.
Officials also found 60,000 tonnes of recyclable glass in the garbage.
All told the study found that a fifth of the overall amount of rubbish thrown out by Swiss residents is matter that can be made use of.
The analysis, conducted every 10 years, was based on a study of 16.5 tonnes of garbage collected by 33 municipalities in urban as well as rural areas.
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