Foggia: WWF flags abandoned underground waste systems

The WWF Foggia has raised alarms regarding 30 defunct underground ecological islands in Foggia, Italy. These high-tech waste management structures were implemented starting in 2006 under the administration of Mayor Orazio Ciliberti and managed by the municipal company Amica SpA.

Representing an investment of over 2 million euros in public, regional, and EU funds, the project utilized Gemini 3 underground technology and memory card identification to modernize urban decor and increase recycling rates, which stood at 7% at the time. However, the initiative faced immediate operational failures. Issues included the inadequate distribution of magnetic cards, blocked loading points, and frequent electromechanical breakdowns caused by water and leachate infiltration into the underground tanks.

Amica SpA reportedly lacked the resources and means to maintain such a complex infrastructure, leading to a corporate crisis that culminated in the company's bankruptcy in 2012. The WWF is now calling for a formal assessment of the current state of these abandoned structures to prevent risks associated with material deterioration.