Lombardy investigation targets illegal agricultural waste spreading

An investigation is underway regarding the illegal spreading of liquid waste on agricultural fields in the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo. Following the seizure of a biogas plant in Chiari, authorities are examining the distribution of approximately 144,000 tons of digestate between 2022 and 2024. Investigators allege that nitrogen concentrations in the distributed material reached levels up to four times the legal limit.

It is suspected that the plant’s nitrogen reduction system was either turned off or operated at minimal levels to save approximately 800,000 euros. Legambiente Lombardia has criticized the situation, describing it as a systemic issue within the regional agrozootecnic sector. The organization warned that excess nitrogen can lead to nitrate contamination in water, ammonia pollution in the air, and the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

The case has drawn comparisons to the previous WTE investigation involving contaminated sludge distributed across several Italian regions, raising renewed concerns regarding the effectiveness of oversight and monitoring of substances applied to agricultural land.