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CHRISTMAS

Reader question: How do I dispose of my Christmas tree in Zurich?

Christmas is over for another year. How do Zurich residents properly dispose of their Christmas trees?

Published: 10 January 2022 11:59 CET
A Christmas tree with decorations seen close up. Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash
A Christmas tree with decorations seen close up. How do you dispose of your tree in Zurich? Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

The life of a Christmas tree is charmed but fleeting. 

One day you’re the centrepiece of the house, glistening with tinsel and fairy lights, the next you’re out on the kerb. 

But for anyone who hasn’t yet disposed of their Christmas tree, it’s important to remember that Switzerland is Switzerland – and when it comes to rubbish collection, there are rules. 

When should I dispose of my Christmas tree in Switzerland?

When and how you dispose of your Christmas tree is generally up to you, if you want it to be collected by Zurich authorities, then you need to do it in January. 

Many people clear out their tree on January 6th, epiphany. 

READ MORE: 20 telltale signs you have gone native in Switzerland

Some Catholic households however dispose of their trees on February 2nd, Mary Candelmas. 

Those who dispose of their trees in February however will need to do so themselves, with the council only doing so in January. 

How do I ensure my Christmas tree is collected?

ERZ Disposal and Recycling Zurich will collect and dispose of your tree free of charge. 

In order to ensure it gets collected, there are a few rules to follow. 

You need to dispose of it on the day of collection of household waste before 7am. 

You need to remove all tinsel or other decorations from the tree, compact it to 1.5 metres and put it next to the Zuri sack container. 

Can I just put it with my compost?

The tree must not be disposed of in the organic waste/compost. 

According to Zurich City Council, this is because Christmas trees do not decompose properly. 

“A Christmas tree is usually chemically treated and has candle scraps or tinsel. These do not decompose in the fermentation process and would end up in the environment via compost utilisation in agriculture.”

READ MORE: ‘I faced prison for plastic in wrong recycling bag’

Instead, Christmas trees are collected and burnt to be turned into energy at the Hagenholz waste-to-energy plant. 

The energy of the burnt trees is then fed into the electricity network, returning as light and heat to Zurich homes. 

More information about the collection program is available here. 

Can I take my Christmas tree to the zoo?

This question is not as odd as it sounds – but the answer is still no. 

Christmas tree retailers often give unsold trees to the Zurich Zoo, Zurich Wilderness Park and the Langenberg Zoo. 

They are either eaten by elephants, llamas, camels, moose and alpacas, or used for playing and sniffing for tigers and lions. 

However, Zoos do not accept private tree donations. 

A spokesperson for Zurich Zoo told Switzerland’s NZZ newspaper that they already have enough from tree retailers and that trees from private homes often have decoration, chemicals and wax which the animals can’t eat. 

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FOOD AND DRINK

Raclette: the Swiss winter dish you have to try 

Switzerland's famous raclette dish is eaten all over the world. Here's a look at the history behind it and how to enjoy it.

Published: 20 December 2022 13:12 CET
Raclette: the Swiss winter dish you have to try 

What is it?

Raclette is a dish that traditionally involves melting cheese and pouring it over potatoes. The cheese originates from the Valais canton of Switzerland. The Swiss favourite is also popular in France and other Alpine regions.

What’s the history behind it?

Good question. According to legend, a winegrower called Léon invented raclette.

“On a cold day, he warmed up a piece of cheese over an open log fire, rather than eating it raw, and this quintessential Valais delicacy was born,” says the Valais tourist board.

According to experts, cheese in Valais dates back to the 4th century BC. Alpine cheese was famous during the Roman period and later on, it was often used as a means of payment, in lieu of wages to workers or as an export product. Cheese melting has been evident in Valais as far back as the year 1574.

The term ‘raclette‘ comes from the local French dialect (racler means to scrape), and it became the official name for this cheese in 1874.

“To this day, Valais cheese makers follow a recipe which has been passed down for generations, taking raw milk and making into the best and most authentic product which Valais has to offer: Raclette du Valais AOP,” says the region. 

When should I eat it?

The dish is usually enjoyed in winter when the temperatures outside are lower and mounds of melted cheese is exactly what you need to keep warm and full. 

For this reason, it’s also a popular après ski dish and will definitely help you replace those calories after a long day on the slopes. 

What should I eat it with?

The cheese can be eaten sliced as part of a spread (known as an “Assiette valaisanne” or “Valais platter”.

But it is most famous for being enjoyed melted. It’s usually accompanied by boiled potatoes, onions and pickled gherkins, although meat and other vegetables are often added. 

According to the Valais tourist board “purists prefer the wheel of cheese to be heated by a wood fire, but raclette grills for half-wheels of cheese and electric raclette grills (also called “raclonettes”) allow devotees to enjoy the dish at home”.

It is usually accompanied by a crisp glass of white wine. 

There is a Swiss belief that you should never drink water with raclette because it will cause the cheese to solidify into a ball in your stomach. But we’ve no idea if this is true or not! 

Did you know?

People in the French-speaking region of Valais talk both of “la raclette” and “le raclette”. “La raclette” refers to the dish based on melted cheese; the cheese itself is known as “le raclette”.

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