Useful household items: what can be donated or sold

A clearance produces more than waste. Many items are in good condition, while others can be recycled or recovered. The article Waste disposal in the canton of Zurich explains what belongs where. This article covers items that have another possible destination.

The principle in law

The Environmental Protection Act (USG) states that the production of waste must be avoided wherever possible and that waste must be recycled or recovered wherever possible (Art. 30 USG). The Ordinance on the Avoidance and Disposal of Waste (VVEA) adds that the cantons must ensure that recoverable materials such as glass, paper, cardboard, metals and textiles are collected separately wherever possible and prepared for reuse or recycled as materials (Art. 13 para. 1 VVEA). Municipalities determine how this works locally.

Passing on items in good condition

For items that are still useful, the City of Zurich lists flea markets, charity shops (Brockenhäuser), second-hand shops and clothes exchanges. Each shop decides what it accepts. Before taking anything there, ask about the conditions and whether furniture is collected.

The Looächer recycling centre in Zurich has an exchange area. You can leave and take small, lightweight items that are in good condition and working order free of charge. Waste Disposal and Recycling Zurich (Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich, ERZ) disposes of anything that nobody takes. In other municipalities, check whether a similar service is available.

There is a restriction on giving away and selling estate items: where there are several heirs, they own the estate assets jointly and, subject to powers of representation and administration, dispose of them jointly (Art. 602 para. 2 of the Swiss Civil Code, ZGB). You should also establish whether a certificate of inheritance (Erbbescheinigung) is required.

→ Certificate of inheritance: what may be cleared or sold beforehand?

These articles explain what can and cannot be sold from an estate: → What really has value in an estate and → Selling an estate in Switzerland

Clothes and textiles

The City of Zurich’s textile containers accept clean clothing and household textiles. The city asks you to use tear-resistant, sealed plastic bags. Depositing them is free of charge. Recycling collection points also accept clean, wearable textiles. The city’s pages do not mention shoes, so ask the collection point about them.

Check pockets and linings first. Cash and jewellery are commonly found there.

Recyclable materials

The City of Zurich’s recycling collection points accept glass, small metal items such as tins and cans, and mineral and cooking oil. According to the city, disposal of household quantities is free of charge for Zurich residents. A clearance may exceed a household quantity. Ask in advance if you have larger amounts.

What the clearance company can handle

When we carry out a clearance, we sort the items on site. Anything that can be sold is valued and deducted from the clearance price in the quotation. Useful items without market value go to charity shops or social organisations, provided they accept them. We dispose of the remainder separately by material category. This article explains how the value offset should be presented so that you can check it: → Value offset: how it works and what to check

The options for individual items are described here: → Flat clearance: what happens to the belongings?