Castelfranco Emilia imposes 80 waste‑abandonment fines in five months

Local police in Castelfranco Emilia have recorded 80 violations of waste‑abandonment rules between January and May 2026, averaging one offense every two working days. Under the new provisions of Law 147/2025, penalties range from €1,000 to €3,000, with an additional one‑month administrative seizure of any motor vehicle used in the offence and possible criminal charges for abandonment far from containers.

Fine revenues are earmarked for the province and the regional environmental agency rather than the municipality. The city estimates that removing illegally dumped waste costs residents about €150,000 annually, diverting resources from other services. Mayor Giovanni Gargano said the stricter national rules require firm enforcement to protect the community and urged citizens, especially the elderly, to follow the correct disposal procedures.