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2026-09-10 16:55 UTC → 2026-09-11 13:19 UTC ·
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Waste management and recycling challenges in Italy
Recent data and research highlight various aspects of waste Waste management and recycling in Italy. According to the 31st Annual Report by Comieco, the regions of Calabria and Basilicata experienced growth in paper Italy face ongoing challenges regarding packaging, electronic waste, and cardboard recycling during 2025. In Calabria, collections rose by 4.6% to 99,600 tonnes, while Basilicata saw a 6.9% increase to 28,511 tonnes. Broader studies indicate that plastic processing. While packaging constitutes 36% of urban solid waste in the country. Challenges remain regarding waste, research suggests consumers can mitigate environmental impacts by selecting lightweight or compostable materials and remaining cautious of “greenwashing” marketing claims. Issues with the improper disposal of small electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and batteries, with batteries persist. On average, Italians discarding discard approximately 2 kg of small electronic waste and 0.12 kg of batteries in general waste annually. Experts suggest that upgrading 60 main Italian treatment plants with advanced sorting technologies, such as robotics and AI, AI could cost up to 114 million euros. Such improvements, alongside better disposal habits, could significantly increase euros, potentially increasing collection rates for small WEEE from 17% to 37% and for portable batteries from 25% to 52%. In response to a plastic recycling crisis, Italian regions have unanimously approved a 21-point proposal coordinated by Sardinia. Submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, the plan seeks stricter protocols, including guaranteed collection deadlines, national waste management plans, and ensuring recycling consortiums—rather than municipalities—bear extraordinary costs. The proposal also advocates for tax credits for secondary raw materials and increased transparency via bi-weekly inventory reporting. The crisis has caused local disruptions, particularly in the Salento region of Puglia. Municipalities such as Porto Cesareo, Copertino, and Lequile have temporarily suspended plastic collection due to supply chain bottlenecks and a lack of available treatment plants, driven by the difficulty of recycled plastic competing with cheaper virgin materials.