ZeroWaste Switzerland

Non-profit association inspiring everyone in Switzerland to reduce waste.

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Statutes of ZeroWaste Switzerland

In the following text, the terms used to designate persons are taken in a generic sense; they are both feminine and masculine.

Article 1 – Name and headquarters

ZeroWaste Switzerland is a non-profit association governed by the present statutes and, secondly, by Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.

The headquarters are located in Cottens/Vaud. The Association shall be of unlimited duration.

Article 2 – Aims and goals

The Association shall pursue the following goals: To raise public awareness of the importance of sustainable waste reduction. Its goals are especially: waste problems to get known, to motivate a sustainable change of behavior, and support actively the involvement of the concerned actors. (The best waste is the one that doesn’t exist!)

ZeroWaste Switzerland can rely on local chapters to achieve its goals and objectives.

Article 3 – Organs

The Association shall include the following organs:

  1. the General Assembly
  2. the Committee
  3. the Auditor
  4. the Management

Article 4 – Members

Any natural or legal person, based in Switzerland, may become a member if they have demonstrated their dedication to the goals of the Association (art. 2) through their commitments or actions by declaring accepting the present statutes and paying the membership fee. By decision of the Management, the contribution may exceptionally be offered to active members.

In addition to the above conditions, organizations (legal persons) need to submit an application for membership which will be approved by the Management.

Membership ceases:
  • on death
  • by written resignation thereby notifying the Administration
  • by exclusion ordered by the Committee, for just cause
  • for non-payment of dues

In all cases the membership fee for the current year remains due.

Article 5 – General Assembly

The General Assembly is the Association’s supreme authority.

It shall hold an Ordinary Meeting once each year. It may also hold an extraordinary session whenever necessary, at the request of the Committee or at least of one-fifth of its members.

The General Assembly shall be considered valid regardless of the number of members present.

The Committee shall inform the members in writing of the date of the General Assembly at least six weeks in advance. The notification, including the proposed agenda, shall be sent to each member at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.

The General Assembly:
  • is presided over by the President of the Association « ZeroWaste Switzerland »
  • appoints the members of the Committee and elects, at a minimum, the President, the Vice-President (or two Co-Presidents) and the Treasurer
  • notes the contents of the reports and financial statements for the year and votes on their adoption
  • approves the annual budget
  • supervises the activity of other organs, which it may dismiss, stating the grounds therefore
  • appoints an auditor for the Organization’s accounts
  • fixes the annual membership fees
  • decides on any modification of statutes
  • decides on the dissolution of the Association
  • decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken by a majority vote of the members present. In case of deadlock, the President shall have the casting vote.

Votes are by a show of hands.

Agenda of GA

The agenda of the ordinary annual session of the General Assembly must include:

  • approval of the Minutes of the previous General Assembly
  • the Committee’s annual Activity Report
  • the report of the Treasurer and of the Auditor
  • the setting of membership fees
  • approval of the budget
  • approval of reports and accounts
  • election of Committee members and Auditor
  • miscellaneous business

Article 6a – Committee

The Committee is composed of a President and four to six other members. He is resigned and eligible for re-election each year on the General Assembly.

The Committee meets as often as the Association’s business requires.

The functions of the Committee are:
  • to take the appropriate measures to achieve the goals of the Association
  • the normative and strategic management
  • the election of the Chief Executive Officer
  • the Committee supervises the Executive Management
  • to take decisions with regard to admission of new members, honorary members as well as the resignation and possible expulsion of members
  • to convene the ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies
  • to ensure that Statutes are applied, to draft rules of procedure, and to administer the assets of the Association.

The members of the committee work on a voluntary basis. They can only claim reimbursement of their traveling and other accounted expenses, according to the allocated annual budget.

Article 6b – Management

The management is the executive body of the association, responsible for operational management. The management manages the day-to-day business and represents the association externally.
The Executive Director (m/f) is elected by the Committee. He/she is an employee of the association.

Powers and duties
The Executive Director manages the office, is responsible for the annual report and annual accounts, and has the right of collective signature in pairs. In addition, the rights and obligations of the Managing Director are described in the employment contract and in the specifications.
Participation
The Executive Director attends Committee meetings without voting rights and prepares minutes.

Article 7 – Resources

The Association’s resources are derived from:

  1. membership fees
  2. donations and legacies
  3. public and private subsidies
  4. any other resources authorized by the law derived from the association activities

Article 8 – Signature

The Association is legally bound by the joint signature of the President, the Vice-President or the General Manager.

Article 9 – Miscellaneous

The financial year shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December of each year.

The Treasurer is responsible for the Association’s finances. The General Assembly shall appoint an Auditor who will audit the Association’s accounts every year.

Article 10 – Dissolution

The decision for dissolution has to be taken unanimously during the General Assembly. Should the Association be dissolved, the available assets should be transferred to a Swiss non-profit organization pursuing public interest goals similar to those of the Association and likewise benefiting from tax exemption. Under no circumstances should the assets be returned to the founders or members. Nor should they use a part or a total of assets for their own benefit.

Article 11 – Responsibility

Association cannot be held liable to third parties, but up to a maximum of the property it owns. Its members disclaim any personal obligation or responsibility.

Article 12 – Contractual link

ZeroWaste Switzerland is bound by agreements with the local ZeroWaste chapters. These contracts fix, apart from the conditions of use – by the section – of the protected name and logo, the financial relations between the section and ZeroWaste Switzerland as well as the other framework conditions of the section’s activity.

Article 13 – Coming into effect of the Statutes

The present Statutes have been approved by the Constituent General Assembly of September 25th, 2015 in Lausanne. Modifications 16 March 2016, 14 March 2017, 13 March 2018, 19 March 2019, 25 March 2021, 22 March 2022, 27 March 2023.

*All communication is made on electronic way.

ZeroWaste Switzerland