An example of how, with initiatives and commitment, separate waste collection can be increased in a city: the example of Tivoli which in 2023 exceeded 78% of separate waste collection, even exceeding 81% during the summer months.
Common Misconceptions About Waste Collection Rome They are numerous, certainly confirmed by a truly inefficient service, which demonstrates every year all its shortcomings. However, in theRome metropolitan area There is a municipality of about 55 thousand inhabitants – Tivoli – who with his initiatives can be considered as a sample of selective waste collection.
Here, thanks to the initiatives implemented by Asa Tivoli (Special Environmental Agency of the Municipality), we are seeing a very strong growth in the selective collection of waste in the territory, but also a notable reduction in the production of waste by residents.
Francesco GirardiAsa’s sole administrator, explains that many initiatives have been taken to achieve this result: “from the Swap party to recycle clean and well-maintained clothes and accessories to the Reuse Cookbook, launched with Slow Food Tivoli Valle dell’Aniene to encourage virtuous behaviour in the kitchen in the management and reuse of waste and surplus, to the sustainable window displays in shops at Christmas (with decorations made from waste) and the campaign against giving up cigarettes that offered smokers pocket cigarette butt holders as gifts to stop them from throwing their butts on the ground” .
A commitment which is then reflected in the figures: of the total waste produced last year, the share of selective collection exceeded 78%, even exceeding 81% during the summer months.
Thus, thanks to this efficiency, out of 22,132 tonnes of waste generated in 2023, 17,285 tonnes will enter the recycling cycle, or in practice almost 8 out of 10 waste products.
The good policies and initiatives launched in the municipal area have thus made it possible to reduce waste production by the inhabitants by 28.7% in 10 years (from more than 31 thousand tons to about 22 thousand), prioritize the R of Reduction and Reuse.
Each citizen of Tivoli produces an average of 402.4 kg of waste each year18.5% less than the national average (494 kg per inhabitant), 19.7% less than the Lazio average (501 kg per inhabitant) and 30.5% less than the inhabitants of Rome (579 kg per inhabitant).
There is still room for improvement, and Asa is primarily focused on further improving the performance of selective waste collection and encourage green and sustainable practicesfocusing on change in citizens’ habits.
In fact, the days of landfills and incinerators are over.”Children of the throwaway culture, for a decade now the focus has been on waste reduction, extensive reuse and recycling, and ecology on a municipal scale which generates tax reductions and hundreds of new jobs.” he concludes Girardi.