Conversations Over Littering: City of Zurich Kicks Off Season Cleanly

The initial field experiments of the 'Great Swiss Littering Study' have shown: Anti-littering measures reduce littering in picnic and leisure areas by about one-third. Personal awareness conversations were also tested: Conversations with passers-by about littering and recycling reduced littering by 27 percent. The IGSU ambassador teams also conduct such conversations. They recently began their annual tour of Switzerland: Since March 20, they have been traveling through Zurich with their recycling vans. Until April 4, they will be speaking with passers-by in parks and along the banks of the Limmat and Lake Zurich about their waste behavior. 'We are pleased that the IGSU ambassador teams open the season every year in Zurich,' said Martin Bräker, District Manager at Grün Stadt Zürich, responsible for the maintenance of the lakeside facilities. 'The warm weather has already drawn the people of Zurich outdoors in early March, so it's high time to raise their awareness about littering and recycling again.'

Sustainable Awareness

The IGSU ambassador teams raise awareness of the littering issue for up to 196,000 people each year. In parks, shopping streets, schools, markets, and events, they motivate children, young people, and adults in direct conversation to properly dispose of their waste. With charm, humor, and unique activities such as 'Tatort Littering' or 'StreetUnArt,' the IGSU ambassador teams meet people at eye level and remain memorable.

In addition to the ambassador teams, IGSU offers many other awareness measures: It organizes the annual national IGSU Clean-Up Day, which this year will take place on September 18 and 19, 2026, supported by the children's book character Globi. Furthermore, it assists cities, municipalities, and schools in implementing area sponsorships or age-appropriate school workshops on littering, recycling, and environmental protection.

Research for the Environment

In the 'Great Swiss Littering Study,' IGSU is also studying, in collaboration with the University of Applied Psychology FHNW, the effectiveness of various measures against littering.

In the summer of 2025, the first of three settings, 'picnic and leisure zones,' was examined. Further field experiments will be conducted in 2026, this time in 'catering zones around take-aways.' In 2027, experiments are planned along 'country roads.'

Media Contact

- Nora Steimer, IGSU Managing Director, 043 500 19 91, 076 406 13 86, medien@igsu.ch
- Carina Schulze, Head of Communication, Grün Stadt Zürich, 044 412 11 89

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: IG saubere Umwelt IGSU