Driven by rising public cleanup costs—which reach around CHF 200 million nationally each year—Switzerland is tackling the sharp increase in urban waste caused by takeaway meals and single-use packaging. In Basel, this issue is particularly evident along popular spots like the Rhein riverbanks and Barfüsserplatz. In general, the cantons, cities, and communities are responsible for maintaining cleanliness, including the implementation of fines. However, while some cantons and communities had already implemented fines, these could differ substantially. To protect the local quality of life, maintain Switzerland’s reputation for exceptional cleanliness, and eliminate a confusing patchwork of cantonal rules, a new anti-littering law with nationwide standardized fines has been implemented as of August 1, 2026.

Under these uniform regulations, dropping trash in public spaces anywhere in Switzerland carries clear administrative penalties, with the amount of the fine depending on the amount of the trash thrown away, based on the number of items thrown away or by the volume of standard trash bags:

So make sure you deposit smaller trash items in trash cans rather than just dropping them on the ground, and put your household trash out with the appropriate bag or sticker on the official trash collection day rather than dumping them in a public trash container!

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