Waste recycling, Legambiente: 'Unstoppable comeback of the South'. Virtuous municipalities grew by over 23% in one year
The XXXI edition of the report. The Centre still stands still with 33 municipalities (last year 30). "Outliers' in urban waste management are confirmed as municipalities with under 5,000 inhabitants
by Andrea Carli
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Key points
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They are a good lens to get an idea of how widespread the differentiated waste collection is in Italy. They are the so-called 'Recycling municipalities', as Legambiente has christened them, which every year takes a snapshot of this reality.
In 2023, highlights the XXXI edition of the survey promoted by the environmental association, the number of municipalities that are virtuous in the management of urban waste (containing the per capita production of undifferentiated waste sent for disposal below 75 kg/inhabitant/year) grows and reaches 698 (+11% compared to the last edition); and 4.058,542 (+ 539,590 inhabitants compared to 2022) citizens served by an efficient waste management service, representing 6.9% of the total population (last year 6%).
The data were presented on Thursday, 4 July, during the second day of the Eco-Forum 2024, the national conference on the circular economy organised by the environmental association, La nuova ecologia and Kyoyo Club.
South's comeback unstoppable, Centre still at a standstill
Northern Italy is confirmed as the 'champion' with 434 virtuous municipalities, but the comeback of the South is unstoppable with 231 municipalities (+23.8% compared to 2022). The Centre still stands still with 33 municipalities (last year 30). "Outliers' in urban waste management are confirmed to be the municipalities with under 5,000 inhabitants: there are 450 out of the total; 196 municipalities between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants and 48 those over 15,000 and the capitals, led - also in this edition - by municipalities in the North-East of the boot (Treviso, Belluno, Trento and Pordenone). At the regional level, Veneto is confirmed as the leading region in terms of the number of virtuous municipalities (173), followed by Lombardy (101, +27 compared to the last edition) and Campania (83, +22 compared to the last edition). Sardinia (+18) and Abruzzo (+9) also recorded growth. On the other hand, Trentino-Alto Adige (-9) and Piedmont (-10) are on the decline.
Waste-Free Citizens
.Of the 4,058,542 'Waste Free' citizens, 40% live in municipalities with a population of between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants, 29% in municipalities of 15,000 inhabitants, 23% in small municipalities, and just 8% in regional capitals. The most significant contributions come from Veneto (33.8% of total virtuous citizens), Lombardy (15.5%), Campania (8%) and Tuscany (7.3%). Of particular note is the 5.9% contribution made by the region of Sicily.
