Plastic recycling crisis threatens waste management in Italy

Italy is facing a national plastic recycling emergency that is significantly impacting regional waste management, particularly in Lazio. Gianni Mannucchi, President of the Environmental Services Section of Unindustria, warned that a lack of outlets for recycled materials is threatening to paralyze the entire recycling chain and urban waste collection services.

The crisis is driven by a shortage of demand for recycled materials, which are currently being undercut by low-cost imported virgin raw materials. This has led to saturated storage capacities at processing plants. In the Lazio region, these issues are compounded by insufficient plant infrastructure for other waste streams, resulting in accumulations and increased costs due to transporting waste out of the region.

In Puglia, the ARO Lecce 2 area has also experienced critical difficulties with plastic collection. While local mayors secured a temporary resumption of services, they noted that the structural problem remains unresolved and warned of potential environmental risks if long-term solutions are not implemented.