Southern Italy crackdown on illegal waste sites in Cotronei, Modica

In Cotronei, Calabria, a former mushroom farm covering 12,000 m² in a protected zone contains deteriorating asbestos sheets piled on pallets, posing a public‑health risk. The local group “Insieme per il Futuro” has demanded an immediate cleanup, accusing municipal authorities of inaction despite receiving €5 million from A2A and of missing a regional €49.7 million fund for landfill remediation.

In Modica, Sicily, police and the Coast Guard used mobile “E‑KILLER” video surveillance to document repeated illegal waste dumping in the Contrada Cammisuli Fargione area. Four suspects have been referred to the prosecutor, a vehicle used for transport was seized, and the site is slated for removal and remediation. Both investigations highlight ongoing illegal waste disposal problems in southern Italy and the authorities’ efforts to enforce environmental law and protect public health.