Summary
Details
- Switzerland
Legally binding for:
Retailers, manufacturers, and importers placing EEE on the Swiss market and operating take-back and recycling arrangements.
Scope exclusions depend on whether the product is classified as covered EEE under the ordinance categories.
Deep dive
📩 Stay ahead of climate regulation and reporting shifts
Regulatory updates, reporting standards, and new climate software — distilled into one concise weekly brief for decision-makers.
Thanks for signing up. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription.
Practical updates. Once per week.
What's Required
Retailers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and disposal companies may need to:
Take back used electrical and electronic equipment from product categories they sell or handle.
Accept covered used equipment free of charge, even when the customer does not buy a new device.
Ensure returned equipment is professionally recycled or disposed of.
Prevent disposal of covered equipment through municipal solid waste or bulky waste routes.
Use authorised disposal companies for collection, treatment and recycling.
Separate problematic components such as batteries, mercury switches, PCB capacitors and other hazardous parts.
Comply with waste movement controls for imports and exports of electrical and electronic waste.
Keep records or documentation showing proper treatment and transfer of waste equipment.
Cooperate with cantonal and federal authorities during inspections or compliance checks.
Important Deadlines
ORDEE entered into force on July 1, 1998.
Compliance applies continuously whenever covered electrical and electronic equipment is sold, returned, collected, treated, imported, exported or disposed of.
Export or import authorisations must be obtained before controlled waste movements take place, where applicable.
Any documentation, treatment or recycling requirements must be met during the handling and disposal process.
Current Status
The Switzerland Ordinance on the Return, Taking Back and Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment is currently in force.
It is a binding federal ordinance and forms the core of Switzerland’s e-waste take-back and recycling system. The Federal Office for the Environment states that retailers, manufacturers and importers are obliged to accept used electrical and electronic equipment they deal in free of charge. This applies even where the customer does not purchase a new appliance.
The ordinance is not voluntary and is not only a recycling guideline. It creates mandatory take-back and disposal duties for covered actors in the Swiss electrical and electronic equipment market.
Used electrical and electronic equipment is also classified as controlled waste under Swiss waste movement rules. Disposal companies accepting such equipment require cantonal authorisation, and imports or exports require authorisation from the Federal Office for the Environment. Exports to non-OECD or non-EU states are prohibited.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Statutory fines
Non-compliance may lead to administrative or legal consequences under Swiss waste and environmental law.
Potential consequences may include:
Prohibition or restriction on handling non-compliant waste equipment.
Refusal, suspension or withdrawal of authorisations for disposal operations.
Orders to correct improper collection, treatment or disposal practices.
Enforcement action for illegal disposal of electrical and electronic waste.
Seizure, return or refusal of non-compliant waste shipments.
Fines or penalties under applicable environmental and waste legislation.
Liability for cleanup, improper disposal or environmental damage.
Increased scrutiny from cantonal or federal authorities.
Because the ordinance is linked to product return, waste handling and authorisation systems, the most immediate consequence of non-compliance is often inability to legally collect, treat, export, import or dispose of covered equipment.
Examples of Known Violations
As of May 2026, we were not able to find publicly available examples of specific penalties imposed under ORDEE against named organizations.
However, Swiss authorities retain enforcement powers over improper e-waste disposal, unauthorised waste treatment, illegal exports, and failures to comply with take-back or controlled waste movement requirements.
Resources
Cut through the green tape
We don't push agendas. At Net Zero Compare, we cut through the hype and fear to deliver the straightforward facts you need for making informed decisions on green products and services. Whether motivated by compliance, customer demands, or a real passion for the environment, you’re welcome here. We provide reliable information. Why you seek it is not our concern.