Agrigento mayor launches costly illegal‑dump cleanup, warns of fines

Mayor Michele Sodano of Agrigento announced the start of an extraordinary clean‑up operation at dawn to remove illegally dumped waste that has piled up in recent weeks. The effort is made possible by an emergency authorization to deliver about 80 tonnes of mixed waste to the Bellolampo landfill, a move that will cost the municipality over €30,000.

The waste surge follows the closure of the Timpazzo disposal plant in Gela, which has complicated the regional waste‑management system and left limited sites for the dry residue generated by the clean‑up. Sodano stressed that such a large intervention cannot be repeated regularly and urged residents to increase recycling, minimise non‑separated waste and stop abandoning trash on streets. He also announced stricter enforcement, noting that cameras have recorded dozens of offenders and that anyone caught will be fined.

The mayor was accompanied by waste‑management assessor Giuseppe Riccobene during the launch of the operation.