Waste recycling rates show regional divergence in Italy

Waste management performance shows significant regional disparities in Italy. In Emilia-Romagna, the recycling rate reached 80.3% in 2025, marking a 1.3 percentage point increase from 2024. This achievement meets the regional goal set by the 2022-2027 Regional Waste Management and Circular Economy Plan. Within the region, Modena leads with 85.5%, followed by Reggio Emilia and Forlì-Cesena. Approximately 58.2% of municipalities in the region have surpassed the 80% recycling threshold.

In contrast, the Val Vibrata area in the Teramo province is struggling to meet higher standards. Data from the Ricicloni portal indicates that recycling rates in several municipalities remain low. For instance, Alba Adriatica recorded 53.5%, Martinsicuro 57%, Tortoreto 52.7%, and Colonnella 52.8%. These figures highlight challenges in waste separation and service organization in a region heavily dependent on tourism and urban quality.