Liechtenstein (LI)

Liechtenstein is a tiny constitutional principality nestled between Switzerland and Austria — one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world — yet it punches far above its 39,000-person weight as one of the wealthiest nations on earth per capita.

Capital: Vaduz

Region: Europe

Language: German

Currency: CHF (Fr)

Cost of living: Very expensive (index 92)

Emergency: 112

Recycling & Waste in Liechtenstein

Bin system, bottle deposits, special disposal, and common mistakes.

Liechtenstein operates one of Europe's most thorough waste separation and recycling systems — reflecting both environmental consciousness and Swiss-standard practices. Waste management is administered by individual municipalities (Gemeinden) with overall coordination by the Amt für Umwelt (Environment Office). All 11 municipalities use similar systems with some local variations. Residents are legally required to separate waste — incorrect disposal can result in fines. The country achieves very high recycling rates comparable to Switzerland.

The Bin System

Residual Waste

Grey/dark — collected in official bags (Kehrichtsäcke)

Kehricht / Restabfall

Accepts

✓Non-recyclable general household waste
✓Food-contaminated packaging
✓Sanitary items
✓Items that do not fit other categories

Not accepted

✗Recyclable materials (glass, paper, plastic, metal)
✗Hazardous waste
✗Electronic waste
✗Bulky items
✗Building rubble

Biowaste

Brown / green bin

Bioabfall / Grüngut

Accepts

✓Kitchen food scraps (cooked and uncooked)
✓Coffee grounds and filters
✓Tea bags
✓Fruit and vegetable peelings
✓Garden waste (leaves, grass, small branches)
✓Compostable materials

Not accepted

✗Meat and fish (in some municipalities — check Gemeindeordnung)
✗Oils and fats
✗Plastics or packaging of any kind
✗Ash

Paper and Cardboard

Blue bin or bundled separately

Papier und Karton

Accepts

✓Newspapers
✓Magazines
✓Books
✓Office paper
✓Flattened cardboard boxes
✓Paper packaging

Not accepted

✗Wet or heavily soiled paper
✗Tissue paper / kitchen roll
✗Paper cups
✗Waxed or coated cardboard (food packaging with mixed materials)

Glass

Green/brown/white — sorted by colour at collection points

Glas

Accepts

✓Glass bottles (white/clear, green, brown)
✓Glass jars
✓Wine and spirits bottles

Not accepted

✗Window glass (Fensterglas)
✗Porcelain or ceramics
✗Mirrors
✗Pyrex / heat-resistant glass
✗Light bulbs

PET Bottles

Yellow bag / designated PET collection containers

PET-Flaschen

Accepts

✓Clear and coloured PET plastic beverage bottles
✓PET household cleaning product bottles

Not accepted

✗Other plastics (bags, packaging film)
✗HDPE containers
✗Polystyrene
✗Non-PET bottles

Aluminium and Tins

Aluminium collection containers (shared with or near PET)

Alu und Weissblech

Accepts

✓Aluminium cans (beverage cans)
✓Aluminium foil (clean)
✓Tin/steel food cans (rinsed)

Not accepted

✗Non-metal items
✗Aerosol cans (take to hazardous waste)
✗Paint tins

PET-Recycling Switzerland (Swiss PET deposit system) — Bottle Deposit System

Liechtenstein participates in the Swiss PET recycling system. PET beverage bottles (water, soft drinks, juice) carry a small disposal levy built into the purchase price — returned through the PET-Recycling system.

Deposit Amounts

Approximately CHF 0.02–0.04 per bottle built into purchase price. Not a direct returnable deposit — the system is funded collectively. Return at designated collection points in supermarkets (Migros, Coop) or municipal collection containers.

How to Return

Bring clean PET bottles to the yellow PET collection containers in supermarkets, at municipal collection points, or at communal recycling stations. No direct cash refund — it is a collective funding mechanism.

Special Disposal

Electronic Waste (E-Schrott)

Return to electronics retailers (DIGITEC/Galaxus, media stores) who accept old electronics under the SENS eRecycling programme. Municipal Sammelstellen (collection points) also accept e-waste. Most Gemeinden have periodic e-waste collection days.

Never put electronics in regular waste. Switzerland/Liechtenstein has an advance recycling fee (vRG) built into electronics prices that funds disposal.

Batteries

Battery collection containers at supermarkets, electronics shops, and post offices throughout Liechtenstein.

Do not throw batteries in household waste — they contain hazardous materials. Rechargeable and single-use batteries accepted.

Hazardous Household Waste (Sonderabfall)

Bring to municipal Sonderabfall collection events or the permanent collection facilities at the Kehrichtheizkraftwerk (waste incineration plant in Buchs, Switzerland — accessible to Liechtenstein residents).

Paint, varnish, solvents, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, aerosols, motor oil, and fluorescent tubes require special disposal.

Medicines (Medikamente)

Return unused or expired medicines to your Apotheke (pharmacy) — they accept medicines for safe disposal at no charge.

Never flush medicines down the drain or toilet — pharmaceuticals contaminate waterways. Pharmacies accept all unused medications.

Textiles and Clothing

Donation containers (Altkleidercontainer) throughout Liechtenstein municipalities. Caritas and Red Cross operate collection points. Clean, wearable clothes can be donated; worn-out textiles collected for recycling.

Only deposit in weatherproof bags to prevent damage from rain.

Cooking Oil and Fat

Designated oil/fat collection containers at some municipal collection points. Never pour down the drain.

Collect in a sealed container and bring to the collection point or check with your Gemeinde for collection schedule.

Bulk Waste

Sperrgut (bulky waste — furniture, mattresses, large appliances) is collected on scheduled days by the Gemeinde. Check your municipality's annual Abfuhrkalender (waste collection calendar) — typically published in January. Some municipalities require advance booking for bulky waste collection. Taking large items to the Kehrichtheizkraftwerk in Buchs directly is also an option.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

! Putting wet or food-contaminated cardboard in the paper/cardboard bin — dry and clean only.
! Disposing of glass in the general Kehricht bag — glass has dedicated containers at communal collection points.
! Putting medicines in household waste — take to pharmacy.
! Not rinsing food containers before recycling — causes contamination of the recycling stream.
! Putting non-PET plastics in the PET collection — only PET coded plastics go there.
! Putting window glass, mirrors, or heat-resistant glass in the glass collection — these have different melting points and must go to hazardous/special waste.

Fines & Enforcement

Fines for incorrect waste disposal in Liechtenstein are issued by municipalities. Repeated offences or dumping of waste in public areas: CHF 100–500+. Illegal dumping of hazardous waste: significantly higher fines and potential criminal proceedings. Municipalities use inspectors and camera systems at collection points.

Practical Tips

→ Check your Gemeinde's Abfuhrkalender (waste calendar) at the start of each year — download and post it in your kitchen.
→ Purchase the official Kehrichtsäcke (waste bags) from Migros, Coop, or your Gemeinde — only these official bags are accepted for residual waste in most municipalities.
→ Glass must be deposited at communal glass collection points (Glassammelstellen) — not collected from home in most municipalities.
→ Supermarket PET collection containers (Migros, Coop) are the most convenient drop-off points for bottles and cans.
→ Large items of furniture or appliances that still work: consider donating to local second-hand shops (Brockenhaus) before disposal.