The city of Zurich, Switzerland, offers a free recycling service via Cargo-Trams and E-Trams that allows residents without a car to recycle electric appliances, glass, bulky goods, plastic bottles and other waste via scheduled trams, which operate on existing public transport lines. The delivered items must not be longer than 2.5 meters (exception: sofa/upholstered furniture no longer than 2 meters) and no heavier than 40 kilograms each. Residents have to separate the materials beforehand according to its composition: flammable, large metal and pit waste. 

While the plants of ERZ Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich (sewage treatment and composting Plant Werdhölzli) employ around 870 employees, this specific cargo tram operation is staffed by a team of four: in addition to the tram driver there are two recycling specialists and a guard to manage traffic flow.

In 1996 and 1997, Zurich had up to 3,000 tonnes of garbage illegally disposed of in the streets. Only half of Zurich households posses a car—so many residents are unable to transport bulky waste to an appropriate location.

Due to this issue, the city concluded that is must make recycling as easy as possible for residents—providing facilities nearby, that are open beyond normal working hours so that working population is able to access them. The solution: the Cargo-Tram, which began operating in April 2003, and offered nine collection points. Zürich residents receive an ERZ disposal calendar each year which also contains information (and a timetable) about the Cargo-Tram.

Due to the popularity of this public service, its scope has been expanded to include the collection of old or broken electronics, branded as the E-Tram.

Both the E-Tram and Cargo-Tram run year-round from Monday to Saturday, currently serving 11 pick-up sites around the city on a rotating basis. Drop-off times are two hours long on weekdays and in the morning on Saturdays.

In 2003, a total of 272 tonnes of waste was collected in 35 collecting rides, representing 7.8 tonnes per collection point. The average amount of garbage collected per point ranges from 5.1 to 12 tonnes. In 2004, 785 tonnes of garbage was collected at eight stops in 94 collecting rides, of which 644 tonnes were bulky goods and 141 tonnes were metal. This represented approximately €3,200 per ride including operative and back-office costs (information to the population, logistics, etcetera).

This system also results in less energy consumption and lower emissions. In Zürich, the Cargo-Tram has proven successful: it represents a high-quality public service that covers a niche for which there is significant demand. Due to the clean and green Cargo-Tram operation, a number car and lorry journeys have been eliminated, helping relieve congestion and pollution in the city.

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