Tari, savings of 322 million per year with greater efficiency of the regions

The introduction, in 2020, of the waste tariff method by the regulatory authority Arera has led to an average increase in management efficiency of 14% in the three-year period 2021-2023 compared to the previous period 2015-2019, and a reduction in territorial inequalities of 13%. This is what emerges from the study conducted by the Cesisp study centre of the University of Milan-Bicocca, presented during a meeting with Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and Arera chairman Stefano Besseghini.

According to empirical data, the regulatory framework has led to a decisive step towards a more efficient, transparent and fair management of municipal waste in Italy. Clear rules for tariffs, definition of standard costs, and service efficiency levels have represented a path towards standardising a sector, that of waste, which is heterogeneous from many points of view. Starting from the geographical one.

Cesisp's analysis confirms some regional differences: some areas, such as the Triveneto, prove to be best performers, while other regions show margins for potential improvement. "If all 20 Italian regions in the integrated municipal waste cycle were to operate with the same level of efficiency as the most virtuous ones, at least EUR 323 million could be saved annually, EUR 202 million of which in collection and transport and EUR 121 million in treatment and disposal," explained Massimo Beccarello and Giacomo Di Foggia, who led the analysis conducted on a sample of 5,000 municipalities.

In the ranking of the most efficient regions, in first place is Friuli Venezia Giulia, with an observed Tari of 264 euro per tonne. While Marche, Umbria and Puglia are those where there is more room for improvement with an observed Tari of EUR 342, 432 and 409 per tonne respectively, which could be cut by EUR 21, 22 and 26. In the regional capitals, Trieste, Venice and Trento show the highest efficiency levels while there is room for improvement in Naples, Perugia and Bologna. The study confirms a positive effect of separate collection on cost reduction. This is particularly evident in door-to-door management.

Another aspect underlined by the study concerns the punctual Tari (which is based on the actual amount of undifferentiated waste produced by each user): it proves effective in Northern Italy, where it helps reduce costs and increase separate waste collection. In the Centre-South, the impact is less marked, especially in territories with insufficient plant equipment. However, the researchers highlight how point-based pricing can mitigate structural disadvantages and act as a territorial rebalancing lever, especially in the new regulatory context. In recent years, the regulatory framework promoted by Arera has "increased the efficiency of the service at the national level, but much still needs to be done. Protecting the environment through greater recovery of waste materials is also the way to reduce the costs of the service," concluded Massimo Beccarello and Giacomo Di Foggia.