Switzerland is among the countries in Europe with the highest waste volume.
According to a report by the SRF broadcaster, “every year, tons of electrical appliances, textiles, furniture, and other items end up in the trash or at recycling centres.”
Concretely, Switzerland’s population discards around 130,000 tons of electronic devices every year - that's 247 kg of electronic waste per minute
But that’s not necessarily because of the lack of environmental awareness.
The ‘throwaway’ culture
It could be that a TV set breaks down, but there are no longer spare parts available for that model. Or perhaps another piece of electronics malfunctions but the manufacturer prefers to replace it than repair.
The bottom line is that it is often cheaper to buy a new item than have an old one repaired.
What happens if you want to give your damaged item a second chance but the cost of the spare parts and labour just doesn’t make it worthwhile?
Financial incentives
Some cities - though by means not all, or even most - have set aside funds just for this purpose.
Zurich is one of the municipalities where this help exists
Residents who want to have electrical appliances repaired or clothing mended will receive up to 100 francs per year from the city coffers, or a maximum of half the repair costs.
With this measure, city authorities want to achieve 40,000 more repairs within three years, and thus save around 950 tons of CO₂.
This subsidy is part of Zurich’s broader climate strategy, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
That's because it believes that indirect emissions - those related to the production and disposal of consumer goods - must be reduced by 30 percent.
Repair and reuse falls under this goal.
What about other municipalities?
Aside from Zurich, such subsidies exist in some areas of the French-speaking region.
For instance, the municipality of Prilly near Lausanne pays up to 50 percent (maximum 300 francs) for repairs of furniture, bicycles, electronics, or clothing.
Renens, also near Lausanne, specifically promotes the repair of broken smartphones with a flat rate of 50 francs.
And Vevey, located in Vaud as well, even covers 75 percent of repair costs (maximum 400 francs), depending on the category.
Unfortunately, such financial incentives don’t exist at the federal level.
A proposal for a nationwide repair subsidy failed in the Council of States in 2023.
What if you don’t live in a place that offers such subsidies but still want to repair rather toss away?
This is where the ‘repair cafés’ come in.
Over 250 of these places that exist currently in Switzerland “are locally organised and run by volunteers,” their website states.
“From household appliances and consumer electronics to textiles and toys, anything can be brought in to be repaired by our repairers. Just drop by without an appointment and bring your broken item. The repairs themselves are free, and you can pass the time with coffee and cake while you wait."
This is where you can find a repair coffee near you.
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