Italy's plastic recycling industry faces crisis as cheap virgin plastic floods market

Industry leaders in Emilia‑Romagna warn that Italy's plastic recycling sector is in severe distress. Companies report warehouses filled with unsold recycled plastic because virgin polymer made from petroleum, often imported at low cost, undercuts recycled material. The imbalance threatens jobs, innovation and the environmental benefits of circular economy.

Regional officials, including Emilia‑Romagna President Michele de Pascale and Environment Assessor Irene Priolo, have written to the Ministry demanding concrete actions. They cite soaring energy prices, falling demand and competition from cheap imported plastics as a “perfect storm” that could force recycling plants to shut down or divert waste to incineration. The Ministry of the Environment continues its monitoring table with representatives from ISPRA, ENEA, regional authorities and industry groups, planning further sessions to address collection and storage challenges.

Stakeholders call for measures such as strict application of minimum environmental criteria in public procurement, anti‑dumping actions against low‑cost virgin plastics, and incentives to make recycled plastic the most economical choice.