Disposal Blog
What Counts as Bulky Waste in Zurich? Full Item-by-Item Guide
See what counts as bulky waste in Zurich and where excluded items must be disposed of instead.
Standing over a broken ski, a stack of suitcases, or an old microwave and wondering whether it's bulky waste is one of the most common moments of disposal confusion in Zurich. Get the classification wrong and your item either gets left at the kerb, or worse, you're looking at a CHF 200 to 500 fine for setting it out incorrectly.
This guide gives you the full, official list of what counts as Bulky waste disposal in Zurich, what doesn't, and where the excluded items actually need to go instead. It also covers the grey-zone items that trip almost everyone up, and the size and weight rules that apply no matter what's on your list.
The Official Definition of Bulky Waste in Zurich
According to ERZ (Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich), Sperrgut is combustible household waste that is too large or heavy for a normal Züri-Sack. That single sentence covers a lot of ground, which is exactly why item-by-item confusion is so common.
Full List: What Counts as Bulky Waste in Zurich
Based on the official City of Zurich classification, the following items count as Sperrgut:
• Furniture: wardrobes, tables, chairs, shelving units, beds, sofas and upholstered furniture (sofa exception: max 2 m instead of 2.5 m)
• Mattresses, including box springs after separation from any metal bed frame
• Carpets and rugs used in homes and apartments
• Suitcases (Koffer)
• Wicker and basketware (Korbwaren)
• Large plastic items, such as plastic furniture, storage boxes, or children's play equipment
• Skis and similar bulky sports equipment
What Does NOT Count as Bulky Waste
The official exclusions are just as important as the inclusions, and they're where most people get caught out.
|
Category |
Examples |
Where It Actually Goes |
|
Electronics |
Fridges, TVs, washing machines, microwaves, laptops |
SENS/Swico e-waste take-back (often free at retailers) or Recyclinghof |
|
Metal / Grossmetall |
Bicycles, metal shelving, radiators |
Recyclinghof or ERZ Abholservice, separate from Sperrgut |
|
Grubengut |
Crockery, glassware, pots, vases, ceramics |
Recyclinghof or Mobiler Recyclinghof, separate stream |
|
Bauschutt (rubble) |
Concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar, sand |
Recyclinghof in household quantities only, not kerbside |
|
Sonderabfall |
Paint, solvents, batteries, fluorescent tubes, gas canisters |
Licensed Sonderabfall drop-off under the VVEA, never kerbside |
|
Hauskehricht |
General household refuse |
Standard Züri-Sack |
Key Takeaway
If it's combustible, oversized, and made mostly of wood, textile, plastic, or wicker, it's almost certainly Sperrgut. If it's electronic, metal, glass, ceramic, masonry, or hazardous, it isn't, and it needs a completely different route.
Grey-Zone Items People Get Wrong
A few categories cause disproportionate confusion, so it's worth calling them out directly.
• Prams and strollers: counted as Sperrgut if the frame is plastic-dominant; metal-framed prams should go with Grossmetall.
• Mixed-material furniture: a wardrobe with a mirror or glass panel should have the glass removed first, since glass is Grubengut, not Sperrgut.
• Ovens and stoves (Öfen): explicitly excluded from Sperrgut by the City of Zurich and treated as large metal appliances instead.
• Wooden furniture with metal fittings: still counts as Sperrgut as a whole item; you don't need to strip every screw and hinge.
• Large cardboard or packaging waste: goes with regular paper/cardboard collection, not Sperrgut, even in bulk.
Size and Weight Rules That Apply to Everything on This List
Regardless of category, a single Sperrgut item may not exceed 40 kg or 2.5 metres in length, with one exception: sofas and other upholstered furniture are capped at 2 metres. Anything larger needs to be disassembled, for example a wardrobe broken down into individual boards, doors, and side panels, before it qualifies for kerbside collection or Recyclinghof drop-off.
What Happens If You Get the Classification Wrong
Items set out without a valid sticker, on the wrong day, or in the wrong category are simply left behind by ERZ. Repeated or deliberate incorrect disposal on public land in Zurich can be treated as illegal dumping, which carries a fine of CHF 200 to 500.
The Faster Way to Sort a Mixed Load
A single-item question is easy to answer with this list. A full apartment or house clearance, a basement full of mixed items, or an inherited flat rarely contains only Sperrgut. It's usually a mix of furniture, electronics, Grubengut, and the occasional Sonderabfall tin of old paint, each needing a different disposal route.
With disposal.ch, you don't need to sort any of it yourself. Send a photo on WhatsApp, get a fixed-price quote confirmed within the hour, and our fully insured team collects everything in one visit, often same-day or next-day, sorting each item into the correct donation, recycling, or certified e-waste disposal stream on your behalf.
Conclusion
Bulky waste in Zurich is narrower than most people assume: furniture, mattresses, carpets, suitcases, wicker, large plastic items, and sports equipment like skis qualify. Electronics, metal, glass and ceramics (Grubengut), construction rubble, and hazardous Sonderabfall all need a separate route, and getting that wrong risks a fine as well as a missed collection. For a single item, this list is all you need. For a mixed clearance, a professional pickup avoids the sorting entirely and gets everything gone in one visit.
Get a fixed-price quote for your disposal or clearance in Zurich today, send us a photo on WhatsApp and we'll confirm your price within the hour. Book your fixed-price pickup here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a mattress count as bulky waste in Zurich?
Yes. Mattresses are explicitly included as Sperrgut, along with box springs once separated from any metal bed frame, which counts as Grossmetall instead.
Are electronics considered bulky waste?
No. Electronics such as fridges, TVs, and washing machines are excluded from Sperrgut and go through certified SENS/Swico e-waste recycling instead, often free at the retailer where you bought them.
What's the size limit for a single bulky waste item?
A single item may not exceed 40 kg or 2.5 metres, with sofas and upholstered furniture capped at 2 metres. Larger items need to be disassembled first.
Does a broken chair or small table need a full Sperrgutmarke?
Yes, every qualifying item needs a sticker sized to its weight, even a single small chair. Multiple small items can sometimes share a bundle under one marke if combined weight allows.
What happens if I put out something that isn't Sperrgut?
ERZ will leave it behind. Repeated or deliberate incorrect disposal on public land can be treated as illegal dumping, which carries a fine of CHF 200 to 500.
