Hazardous waste removal begins from Berzo Demo site to Germany

The first trucks carrying special hazardous waste have departed from the former Selca industrial site in Berzo Demo, Brescia, destined for a salt mine repository in Hesse, Germany. This marks the beginning of a major environmental remediation project for the Val Camonica region, aimed at resolving a long-standing crisis.

The site, formerly used for the production of graphite electrodes and the storage of special waste, contains approximately 37,000 cubic meters of hazardous materials, including residues containing fluorides and cyanides. The facility has been disused since the company's bankruptcy.

Giorgio Maione, the Environment and Climate Assessor for the Lombardy Region, stated that the project required overcoming complex bureaucratic and legal hurdles. The regional government mobilized 16.9 million euros to facilitate the operation and coordinate various local authorities, including the Prefecture, the Province, Arpa, Ats, and the Municipality, to ensure the safety of the territory.