The Market | Location | Utilities & Garbage Disposal | Map of the Zurich Area Utilities Washers and dryer for clothes are usually located in the basement of larger apartment buildings. In such premises, tenants are generally allowed one or one half day per week to do their washing. In executive housing, apartments usually have a washer and dryer for the exclusive use of each tenant. All houses and apartments in Switzerland have good central heating, often providing floor heating with additional radiators for sufficient warmth. In apartment buildings, though the switching on and off of heating is usually centrally operated by a caretaker, you can set the temperature in your own apartment according to your personal preferences. The cost of heating is usually calculated on the basis of energy actually consumed by the individual tenant. Electricity in Switzerland is 220 volts AC/10 Amps Max/50 Hz, making it suitable for all electrical equipment rated with a power consumption of 2200 W. For equipment with a higher power consumption (ovens, washers, etc.), single or 3 phase is necessary. All appliances working on 110 volts (i.e., from the U.S.A.) require transformers which take up a lot of space and detract from the aesthetics of your home. Electricity costs are calculated on the basis of tariffs, the cheapest being available between 9 p.m. and 6 am Mondays to Fridays, Saturdays after 1 p.m. and all day Sunday. Power cuts are very rare in Switzerland. The power to washing machines, however, may be cut during lunchtime to conserve energy for cooking. Plugs vary in configurations, but most modern ones have 2 or 3 (4mm) pins including earth and a 16amp fuse rating. Electrical equipment brought from abroad must be adapted to these standards unless you manage to find the appropriate conversion plug to suit your needs. Most apartments and houses have their own fuse box. The old type has colored discs. If they are not visible, the fuse has blown. The more modern type has a simple switch that trips to off when the circuit overloads. In all modern houses and apartments, an additional safety switch immediately breaks the circuit should unusual or dangerous situations occur. Electrical installations that require wiring within the fuse box need to be professionally executed by qualified electricians. Natural gas is piped into Switzerland and is increasingly used for central heating due to its ecological advantages over oil. Its price is, unfortunately, directly related to the price of oil. Gas stoves are rarely found in modern kitchens, although it has recently become fashionable to have a small gas section installed next to the electrical stove in luxuriously equipped kitchens. Water in Switzerland can be very hard, depending on the area. Zurich’s water, for example, has a very high level of calcium, so you will require a regular supply of decalcifying tablets for your iron, coffee maker, or shower fitting. The cost of your water bill is calculated either based on the amount used according to a water meter or as a fixed rate based on the size of your house and the number of faucets. The cost of water is generally low in Switzerland compared to other European countries. Local electricity, gas and water companies are responsible for quarterly electricity, gas, water and sewage bills. As meters are read every six months, your first bill will be an estimate. The second bill is itemized to reflect actual consumption. Television Switzerland uses the PAL System for televisions and VCRs. If your equipment is not compatible, you should consider purchasing these appliances locally. Prices, though, are probably higher than you would expect to find in your native country. Whether you bring a television or a radio to Switzerland or acquire these upon arrival, you must register with the Billag for subscription to television and radio services. This fee for authorisation of private reception amounts to approximately Sfr. 35.-- per month. Public television in Switzerland offers four local channels: the Swiss-German SF-DRS and SF2, the Swiss-French TSR and the Swiss-Italian TSI. In addition, there are various private local stations whose programs add diversity to Swiss television offerings. Should you decide to obtain more channels, you must subscribe to a cable company, which will charge you an annual fee for approximately 40 channels plus an installation fee. Often a cable connection is already installed in houses or apartments and the fee is included in the monthly rent. Television programs via cable include broadcasts from Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the United States. Radio Before bringing a radio, you may want to make sure it can receive signals on the following frequencies used in Switzerland: LW150-280Khz, MW510-1600Khz and FM88-108Mhz. Telephones If you are planning on moving into a previously unoccupied apartment or house in Switzerland, you may need to have telephone wires installed by a licensed electrician. To obtain a telephone line, Swisscom will ask you to submit your passport or residency permit and to pay a deposit fee plus installation charges. If you move into a previously occupied apartment or house and the telephone service has officially been cancelled by the former tenant, you must sign up for a new telephone line with Swisscom. To do so, use forms found in Swiss telephone directories or ask an official representative in any Swisscom store to complete the formalities for you. You may also register at Swisscom. Again, you will be asked to bring your documents and to pay a deposit fee. The process of obtaining a new telephone number takes approximately one week. Swisscom rents or sell telephones and fax machines. These may be charged to your monthly telephone bill. Every telephone, private or public, is equipped with International Dial Direct (IDD), so users need only dial 00, before the country and area code, to reach their destination. If you are unsure about the country code, check the telephone directory. There are several other telephone providers in Switzerland, such as Orange and Sunrise. Before deciding which company you would like to use, it is worth comparing their services, rates and connections. Public telephones The public telecommunication system in Switzerland is excellent. All public telephones permit direct dialed international calls. Public telephones have clear instructions in several languages including English. Pre-paid phone cards can be purchased at post offices and news stands. In addition, most public telephone boxes are now equipped with electronic directories. For personal assistance, dial one of the following numbers: Garbage Disposal Waste disposal in Zurich is very well organized and the cost of the service is based upon user frequency. It is important to follow the proper instructions, not only to ensure the success of the operation, but also to avoid being fined for incorrect waste disposal. Collection schedules and recycling rules vary according to the community. If you live in the city of Zurich the "Zurich collection calendar” is the essential document you need. It lists the days on which the different kinds of garbage are collected. The calendar, general information and advice is available from the Disposal & Recycling Department (German only) (044 645 77 77). Refuse that must be placed in a garbage bag (Zueri-Sack) includes combustible waste such as packaging, plastic, wood, kitchen waste, vegetable peelings, food leftovers, etc. In Zurich you must use official gray garbage bags with a colored print. They are available in 17 liters, 35 liters, 60 liters and 110 liters sizes in all supermarkets. Household refuse is generally collected twice a week. In the suburbs it is customary to use tax stickers, sold at local supermarkets, which must be placed on garbage bags before disposal. Calendars are published by each community. In the city of Zurich the following applies (the surrounding communities have comparable arrangements): Bundled paper (newspapers, magazines, envelopes, letters, etc.) is collected free of charge every two weeks. Bundled cardboard (corrugated cardboard, no laminated packaging such as drinks and freezer packaging) is being collected approximately every two months. It is important to put the refuse (if there is no container in front of the house) before 8am, the bundled paper and the bundled cardboard on the sidewalk or at the edge of the street before 7am. Bulky combustible waste such as furniture, carpets, wood, etc., metal objects, earthenware and rubble are collected on request (044 645 77 55) and a charge applies. Garden waste (leaves, grass cuttings, weeds, branches, etc.) is collected weekly after subscription and a charge applies (044 645 58 30). Clothes and shoes (only clean items in good condition) are collected for charitable purposes about every three months in special Tex-Aid bags, which you receive automatically by mail. In addition to the above mentioned collection services, there are an abundance of public collection points for recyclable materials all over the city. They include different containers for glass (bottles, jars, etc.) and metal such as aluminum or tin cans (rinse and remove paper), kitchen foil, nails, etc. PET drink bottles (specially designated plastic bottles)(no oil or vinegar bottles), batteries, energy saving and neon lamps, can be returned to the sales point (e.g., supermarket) for free. Office electronics (monitors, computers, printers, mobile telephones, etc.), electrical household appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, televisions, hair dryers, etc.) and tires can be returned to the point of sale. Suppliers are required to take them back, but will usually charge for the service. Used oil (motor oil, cooking oil, etc.) has to be returned to a specified public collection point. Hazardous waste such as chemicals, paints, varnishes, spray cans with propellant, medicines, thermometers, etc., must be returned to the sales point (chemists, drug stores, etc.) or directly to the hazardous waste collection point (Hagenholz in Zurich: Hagenholzstrasse 110, 044 645 77 77). The Market | Location | Utilities & Garbage Disposal | Map of the Zurich Area Home |