Types of clearance
Single-Item Collection (Einzelabholung)
Also known as: Furniture disposal · Bulky waste collection · Sperrgut collection · Dispose of a single item
A single-item collection (Einzelabholung) is the transport and disposal of individual items such as a sofa, a fridge or a mattress. In Switzerland it typically costs between CHF 80 and CHF 250, depending on the item and the floor it has to be carried down from.
When a single-item collection makes sense
Not every disposal need is a clearance. Often it is a single piece of furniture that has been replaced, a broken large appliance, or a mattress that will not fit into the official rubbish bag (Kehrichtsack). If you have no suitable vehicle, nobody to help you carry, or simply no time for the trip to the municipal collection point (Sammelstelle), a single-item collection is faster and often cheaper than expected. For expats without a car in Zurich this is usually the only practical route.
What determines the price
Three factors: the floor and whether there is a lift, the weight and bulk of the item, and the disposal category. A sofa from the sixth floor without a lift takes more effort than the same sofa on the ground floor. Large electrical appliances are already pre-financed through the advance recycling fee (vorgezogene Entsorgungsgebühr, paid when you buy the appliance), but they require a separate disposal route.
Combining items saves money
If several items are involved, it is almost always worth combining them into a single appointment. The largest cost block in a single-item collection is the journey — whether we take one item or five makes little difference to it. So if you have more than one item, ask for a combined appointment.
A case from practice
A customer in Zurich-Wiedikon has a three-seater sofa, an old fridge and two mattresses collected. Apartment on the third floor, no lift. Two staff need around forty-five minutes. The fridge goes into electrical waste recycling, the sofa and mattresses into waste-to-energy incineration. Together clearly cheaper than three separate appointments.
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Frequently asked questions about Single-Item Collection (Einzelabholung)
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