Italian regions propose 21 measures to tackle plastic recycling crisis

Italian regions have unanimously approved a 21-point proposal to address the national plastic recycling crisis. Coordinated by the Sardinia region, the document has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security to establish stricter protocols for waste management.

Key measures include guaranteed collection deadlines for consortiums, a national plan to manage accumulated waste, and ensuring that extraordinary costs are borne by the recycling consortium rather than municipalities or citizens. The proposal also calls for increased transparency through bi-weekly inventory reporting, tax credits for using secondary raw materials, and stricter controls on imported plastics.

The crisis is already manifesting locally, notably in the Salento region of Puglia. Several municipalities, including Porto Cesareo, Copertino, and Lequile, have been forced to temporarily suspend plastic collection and disposal due to the unavailability of treatment plants and bottlenecks in the supply chain. This disruption is attributed to the difficulty of recycled plastic competing with cheaper virgin materials and systemic pressures on processing facilities.