Rome hikes waste tax 5% while many Italian towns cut TARI in 2026

Rome will raise its waste‑service tax (TARI) by 5.2%, adding about €26 million to the city’s budget, according to the city’s finance adviser. The increase is justified by higher disposal, fuel and contract costs and comes despite a broader national debate on the affordability of the tax.

Several other municipalities are taking different approaches. Troina approved a three‑year waste‑service plan but kept the TARI unchanged, absorbing higher costs through reserves. Parabiago and Volpiano announced reductions of about 6 %‑7 % in average tariffs, citing improved collection efficiency and recycling rates above 80 %. Teramo’s council approved a new financial plan that leaves tariffs slightly lower than the previous year while confirming a social‑bonus discount for low‑income households.

Conversely, Mantova and the Ato Toscana Centro area approved modest tariff hikes (around 2.5 % to 6 %) to cover rising service expenses. In Taranto, councilors from Forza Italia proposed removing the ISEE‑based eligibility criterion for the variable portion of the tax to avoid double charging residents who live elsewhere.

Other councils—including Messina, Albano Laziale, Bagnoli Irpino and others—have also discussed TARI adjustments as part of broader budget and programme reviews for 2026‑2029, reflecting a mixed picture of increases, cuts and regulatory reforms across Italian municipalities.