Santa Palomba incinerator site faces asbestos allegations

Allegations of asbestos presence have emerged at the Santa Palomba incinerator construction site near Rome. The Union of Committees against the incinerator reported seeing workers in full white protective suits and large bags of material designated for hazardous waste during nighttime operations on September 18 and 19.

Local committees claim the material may be asbestos buried in the site since the 1960s or 1970s when the land served as a landfill. They have reported exceeding contamination thresholds for heavy hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and cobalt. The committees are formally requesting that Arpa Lazio and the ASL conduct analyses, characterize the site, and suspend excavations.

Regional Councilor Alessandra Zeppieri has filed an urgent inquiry and requested access to records from ASL Roma 1 to verify remediation plans and safety guarantees. Zeppieri noted that nighttime operations involving excavators appeared to create clouds of dust, raising concerns regarding the safety of workers and local residents. Meanwhile, the Rete Tutela Roma Sud is organizing community meetings and a national demonstration scheduled for October 3 in Rome to discuss the environmental and health implications of the project.