Special waste: a shortage of processing facilities is driving 5.1 million tonnes abroad

We must also take into account the context of Italia, a country characterised by a shortage of raw materials. As the Assoambiente report highlights, the Italian economy uses 777 million tonnes of materials every year, a figure that has remained largely stable over the last decade. Of these, 642 million tonnes are virgin raw materials, with 300 million tonnes (46 per cent) sourced from abroad, particularly in the case of fossil fuels. A further 135 million tonnes come from recycling: Italia has a material circularity rate of over 21 per cent (ISPRA 2024 data), second in Europe only to the Netherlands (27.2 per cent). It is clear that an increase in the recycling rate would reduce the country’s dependence on imports.

‘We are among the European leaders in the circular economy, but we cannot be content with the results we have achieved. We continue to export millions of tonnes of waste and rely too heavily on landfill sites. We must address the shortfall in treatment facilities, make better use of energy recovery for non-recyclable waste, and create a regulatory environment conducive to investment, through clear rules and, for example, simpler and faster authorisation procedures. Only in this way can we make the system more efficient, sustainable and less costly,” comments Testa.

“Let’s take an example: we are removing asbestos from all over Italia. Yet there isn’t a single facility in the country for treating this material, even though the process is simple: the asbestos is vitrified and rendered harmless. Instead, we send it all to Germany. The shortfall in treatment facilities is particularly significant for this type of waste – industrial and special waste – whilst the NRRP has taken important steps regarding municipal waste,” continues Testa.

“A starting point,” he adds, “could be special waste, which comes from industrial activities: all it would take is the political will to do so. The climate has changed somewhat in recent years: it has become clear that waste treatment – both urban and special waste – are important activities that require facilities and industries. However, the transition has not yet been completed because there is still a widespread view amongst the public that waste, rather than being seen as an opportunity, is a threat.”