We clear your cellar from top to bottom - carrying items out ourselves, sorting everything for recycling, and giving you a fixed price before we start.
A basement clearance is one of those jobs that expands the moment you open the cellar door. Old furniture, forgotten boxes, broken appliances, damp mattresses: it adds up fast. Our disposal services in Zurich are built for exactly this situation: we come to your property, handle all sorting and disposal ourselves, and you do not have to arrange anything separately.
January to March is the busiest period for cellar clearances in Zürich. That is when lease handovers peak and landlords need compartments emptied quickly. We offer year-round appointments, including same-day in most postcodes across the city. Leaving items illegally in communal areas or on pavements carries fines of CHF 200-1'000+ under the Zürich waste ordinance, so arranging proper collection is always the safer and easier route.
We work with private residents, landlords, property managers, and estate executors throughout Kanton Zürich, Aargau, Luzern, and Zug. Every job gets a Fixpreis: a fixed written quote before our team arrives. No hourly surprises, no hidden charges.
A basement or cellar clearance means the complete removal of all items from a storage compartment (Kellerabteil), cellar room, or multi-room basement. This differs from a single-item collection. The table below shows when ERZ handles it versus when disposal.ch is the right choice.
| Situation | ERZ Option | disposal.ch | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bulky item (≤25 kg, at kerbside) | Sperrgutmarke ~CHF 9/item | CHF 60-120 door collection | ERZ is cheaper for 1 item |
| 3-5 mixed items from cellar | Multiple Sperrgutmarken; you carry to kerb | CHF 120-250 fixed, we carry | disposal.ch saves time and effort |
| Full Kellerabteil (3-6 m²) | Not offered: ERZ does not clear compartments | CHF 250-480 fixed | disposal.ch only option |
| Large cellar (10-20 m²) with furniture | Not offered | CHF 480-1'200 depending on volume | disposal.ch only option |
| Electrical items (e-waste) | Free at Recyclinghof (self-delivery) | Collected as part of clearance: SENS/Swico routing | ERZ free if you can transport; disposal.ch if in a cellar clearance |
| Hazardous materials / chemicals | Recyclinghof Sonderabfall drop-off | Flagged and separately routed per ChemRRV | Notify us in advance for Sonderabfall items |
Items that cannot go in a Züri-Sack or via the standard ERZ kerbside service: items over 25 kg, large furniture pieces, construction debris, and electrical appliances. These all require either a Recyclinghof drop-off or a collection service like ours.
Wardrobes, shelving units, old sofas, tables, and bed frames are the most common cellar clutter. A full wardrobe can weigh 80-140 kg, well beyond any Sperrgutmarke limit. We disassemble where needed, carry items out, and route usable furniture to reuse networks before disposal. For a full item-by-item price guide, see our furniture disposal page.
Old mattresses are a classic cellar storage problem: damp environments cause foam and fabric degradation. We collect all sizes including double and boxspring models (typical weight 20-45 kg). Materials are separated at the processing facility: foam to energy recovery, springs to metal recycling. Full type detail is on our mattress disposal page.
Fridges, washing machines, televisions, and IT equipment stored in cellars must be routed through SENS- or Swico-registered channels under Swiss VRB rules. We handle the compliance documentation as part of the collection. For volume e-waste or standalone appliance removal, see our electronic waste disposal page.
Boxes, bags, construction offcuts, sports equipment, garden tools: anything that accumulated over years of storage. No Sperrgutmarke required, no sorting on your part. We load, weigh where needed, and handle correct separation at the depot. For oversized single items, see our bulky waste disposal page.
Paints, solvents, pesticides, batteries, and fluorescent tubes fall under Sonderabfall regulations (USG / ChemRRV). We do not mix these with general waste. Please flag any hazardous items when requesting your quote so we can arrange separate ChemRRV-compliant routing.
Request your quote: Send a WhatsApp message or fill in the online form on this page. Include a few photos of the cellar. We reply with a fixed price within minutes, usually faster at +41 76 413 61 83.
Confirm your date: Accept the Fixpreis and confirm your preferred date. Same-day and next-day slots are available across most Zürich postcodes. No deposit required.
On-site collection: Our insured two-person team arrives on time, carries every item out of the cellar, and loads the van. You do not need to carry anything to the kerb. We work in Kreise 1-12 and throughout greater Zürich.
Sorting, recycling, disposal: Items are separated at our depot: reusable goods to charity networks, wood to biomass, electronics to SENS/Swico, residual waste to Kehrichtverwertungsanlage Hagenholz. You receive a disposal confirmation on request.
| Criteria | ERZ (Stadt Zürich) | disposal.ch |
|---|---|---|
| Cellar access | No: items must be at kerbside by 7:00 AM | Yes: we carry from any floor or cellar |
| Same-day availability | No: minimum 3 business days notice | Yes: often available same day |
| Full compartment clearance | Not offered | Included: any volume |
| Price per item | CHF 9 Sperrgutmarke (≤25 kg each) | Fixed quote per m³ or per job |
| E-waste (SENS/Swico) | Free at Recyclinghof (self-delivery) | Included in clearance: no extra step |
| Hazardous material routing | Recyclinghof Sonderabfall (self-delivery) | Pre-arranged separately per ChemRRV |
| Insurance cover | N/A (self-service) | 100% insured team: Specialclean Züri GmbH |
| Post-clearance cleaning | Not offered | Available via zuericlean.com |
When ERZ is the better option: If you have 1-2 small items under 25 kg each and can carry them to the kerbside yourself, the ERZ Sperrgutmarke at CHF 9 per item is the cheapest option. We will always tell you this honestly. For a full cellar compartment, multiple heavy items, or anything that needs carrying, disposal.ch is the practical choice.
Swiss tenancy agreements typically require the cellar compartment to be handed back besenrein, swept clean, on the day the keys are returned. We offer same-day and next-day appointments in most Zürich postcodes. Message us on WhatsApp the evening before and we can confirm a morning slot. January to March is peak season, so request early when possible.
Zürich's older residential buildings often have basement access that is narrow, steep, and without a lift. Our team is trained and insured to work in these conditions. All access constraints are assessed in the quote stage and reflected in the Fixpreis, with no day-of surprises.
Clearing a deceased person's cellar alongside their main home is one of the most demanding clearance tasks. We work discreetly, at your pace, and can co-ordinate the timing around probate or property sale requirements. For a combined cellar and main-apartment clearance following a bereavement, see our apartment clearance page. We handle both in a single visit.
Old paint tins, asbestos-containing boards, fluorescent tubes, and unknown chemicals are common cellar finds. We will not mix these with general waste. Flag anything unknown when requesting your quote and we pre-arrange ChemRRV-compliant routing and Sonderabfall disposal at no hidden extra cost.
Property managers and landlords across Kreis 1-12 use our priority request line. We can typically commit to a 24-hour turnaround for vacant cellar clearances. The compartment is left swept and empty, ready for new tenant access.
Every item removed from a cellar clearance is separated at our depot before any disposal. We do not use single-stream landfill tipping.
| Material Type | Routing Destination | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reusable furniture / goods | Charity networks, reuse shops | Items in usable condition offered to partner reuse networks first |
| Wood and timber | Biomass energy / chipboard recycling | Sorted clean from treated wood; treated wood to energy recovery |
| Metals (steel, aluminium) | Metal recycling depot | Separated by alloy type; VRB-applicable metal recycled |
| Electrical / e-waste | SENS / Swico certified facility | FCKW refrigerants handled separately; VRB documented |
| Textiles and foam | Textile reuse or energy recovery | Usable textiles to textile banks; foam to energy plant |
| Residual / mixed waste | Kehrichtverwertungsanlage Hagenholz | Non-recyclable residuals go to KVA Hagenholz for incineration with energy recovery |
| Hazardous / Sonderabfall | ChemRRV-registered facility | Separately routed; documentation available on request |
Once your cellar is cleared, you may need it professionally cleaned before handing back to the landlord. Through our sister company zuericlean.com, we can arrange a deep-clean of the cellar space as part of the same request. One phone call, one visit, one invoice: the compartment is handed back swept, clean, and ready.
If you are also clearing the main apartment, our overall clearance service combines cellar, apartment, loft, and garage removal in a single coordinated arrangement. This is particularly useful for full property handovers, estate clearances, or major renovation prep.
| What We Offer | What This Means for You |
|---|---|
| Fixpreis: written fixed price before we start | No hourly billing surprises. The price you approve is the price you pay. |
| 100% insured: Specialclean Züri GmbH | Your property is covered during the entire clearance. Items, access, and carry-out are all within our insurance scope. |
| Same-day availability in most Zürich postcodes | WhatsApp a photo today and we can often be there this afternoon or tomorrow morning. |
| Bilingual team (German and English) | Clear communication throughout: no misunderstandings on scope, price, or timing. |
| Responsible recycling with named facilities | SENS, Swico, Kehrichtverwertungsanlage Hagenholz: not vague "eco-friendly" claims. |
| Partner cleaning service available | Post-clearance deep clean via zuericlean.com: the only provider in Zürich offering this combination. |
| 5.0 Google Reviews (48+ ratings) | Verified customer feedback across Zürich Kreise 1-12 and greater Kanton Zürich. |
| Real WhatsApp line: +41 76 413 61 83 | A real person reads your message and replies with a price. No bots, no contact forms with 48-hour delays. |
A small Kellerabteil (up to 5 m²) typically costs CHF 150-250. A medium compartment runs CHF 250-420, and a large multi-room cellar CHF 500-1'600, depending on volume and access. All prices are fixed quotes, with no hourly surprises. Send a photo on WhatsApp for an exact price within minutes.
ERZ only collects individual items left at the kerbside with a Sperrgutmarke (CHF 9 each, max 25 kg). They cannot enter your building or clear a cellar compartment. disposal.ch carries everything from your cellar, handles sorting, and gives you a fixed price for the whole job.
Yes. Same-day slots are available in most Zürich postcodes. WhatsApp us a photo of the cellar at +41 76 413 61 83, confirm the Fixpreis, and we can often arrive that afternoon. January-March is our peak period, so request early if possible.
No. Our team carries everything from inside the cellar, regardless of stairs, narrow corridors, or access difficulty. Carrying to the kerb yourself is not required. The only time we ask you to pre-sort is if there are known hazardous items. Flag these when requesting your quote.
We price by volume and job complexity. You receive a Fixpreis based on photos or a site visit, never by the hour. Access difficulty, stairs, and no-lift conditions are factored in upfront. Floor surcharges of CHF 5-10 per carry-level are always stated in the quote, not added on the day.
Non-recyclable residuals go to Kehrichtverwertungsanlage Hagenholz for incineration with energy recovery, the main Swiss waste-to-energy plant serving Zürich. Electronics go to SENS/Swico certified facilities. We do not tip illegally, and we provide a disposal confirmation on request.
Yes. Estate cellar clearances are one of the most common jobs we handle. We work at your pace, with discretion. For combined cellar and apartment clearance following a bereavement, we can co-ordinate a single visit. Timing can be aligned with probate or property handover requirements.
Yes. Through our sister company zuericlean.com, we offer deep-cleaning of the cleared cellar space as part of the same request. This is useful for lease handovers requiring a besenrein (broom-clean) condition. One request, one visit, one invoice. Call or WhatsApp +41 76 413 61 83.
