The recycling rate of packaging and waste in Italy has been growing steadily for 25 years and is confirmed to be at the top of the European ranking. The data come from the Report ‘Recycling in Italy 2022,’ presented on 16.12.22 by the Foundation for Sustainable Development at the National Recycling Industry Conference. (1)
Edo Ronchi – president of the Foundation for Sustainable Development as well as the ‘father’ of the waste management reform, as the minister of the Environment who launched it – points out some useful measures to improve the demand for products from recycling (MPS, secondary raw materials).
1) Waste recycling, the Italian revolution.
In 25 years, thanks to the reform initiated by Legislative Decree 22/1997, Italy has gone from waste emergency to excellence in recycling:
- in 1997 only 9.4 percent of municipal waste and 21 percent of industrial waste were subject to separate collection and recycling. While 80% and 33%, respectively, ended up in landfills,
- in 2020 separate collection and recycling reached 63 percent of municipal waste and 70 percent of industrial waste, while landfilling dropped to 20 percent and 6 percent.
The Italian recycling industry is now a strategic sector of the national production system with 4,800 companies, 236,365 employees, a production over 25 million tons of recycled materials (+13.3%, between 2014 and 2020) and an added value of 10.5 billion (+31% in the period 2010-2020).
2) Recycling, Italy’s record in the EU.
Italy’s leadership in the EU in recycling of waste and packaging waste is remarkable:
- 72 percent the average recycling rate of all waste, municipal and special-industrial in Italy, compared with an average of 53 percent in the EU and 55 percent in Germany, its leading industrial power,
- 21.6 percent use rate of recycled materials in total materials consumed, compared with 12.8 percent in the EU and 13.4 percent in Germany (2020 data),
- 73.3 percent recycling rate of packaging waste (10.5 million tons in 2021), already above not only the European target for 2025 (65 percent) but also the target set for 2030 (70 percent), 9 years ahead of schedule.
3) The needs of the industry
‘The recycling sector, a fundamental pillar of a circular economy. is strategic in order not to waste valuable resources, not to fill the country with landfills, recover useful materials for the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, at a time of economic downturn, they are needed:
- Incisive measures to strengthen the demand for MPS, the secondary raw materials produced by recycling, and
- structural interventions to address the sharp rise in energy costs, which for the recycling industry constitute the largest share of production costs‘ (Edo Ronchi, president of the Foundation for Sustainable Development).
3.1) Strengthen the demand for recycling materials.
The measures proposed to strengthen the demand for recycling materials (MPS, secondary raw materials) are:
- Introduce a reduced VAT rate on recycled material, to be offset by an increase in the levy on waste disposed of in landfills or by incinerators,
- Provide a requirement to acquire established minimum quantities of recycled material in green public procurement (
Green Public Procurement
, GPP) and related minimum environmental criteria (CAM), - Increase the use of recycled material in productive sectors through appropriate sector agreements.
3.2) Structural interventions to mitigate energy costs.
Structural interventions to reduce the sector’s exposure to energy costs should, according to the Sustainable Development Foundation:
- Promote research and innovation aimed at improving electricity and heat efficiency and savings,
- Simplify procedures for the ‘thermal valorization’ of residues from recycling processes. A sensitive issue in the face of environmental pollution and public health risks.
4) Italy, updated data on the 19 recycling supply chains
The Report ‘Recycling in Italy 2022’ shows performance for each of the 19 recycling supply chains, where Italy stands out in several cases with record numbers at the European and global level.
Paper and glass, high recycling
The recycling rate for paper packaging in 2021 reached 85 percent and for glass 77 percent, and they exceeded the European target to 2030.
By 2021, 63 percent of paper and cardboard and 61.6 percent of glass produced in Italy are derived from recycling.
Plastic packaging, progress and challenges
By 2021, the recycling rate of plastic packaging waste reached 56 percent, up 14 percent from 2016, exceeding the EU target for 2030 (55 percent).
However, the new European method of measuring targets will reduce the indicated value. Therefore, it will be necessary to increase separate collection and/or the development of new recycling technologies.
Aluminum and steel, good levels of recycling
The packaging recycling share of the released for consumption in 2021 reached 68 percent for aluminum and 72 percent for steel. Italy is the European leader in scrap iron recycling.
Wood recycling, Italian excellence in particleboard
In 2021, the recycling rate on the released for consumption of wood packaging reached 65 percent, almost double the EU average (32.4 percent).
Ninety-seven percent of recycled wood material in Italy is made into chipboard, a sector where Italy is a world leader.
Bioplastics, the Italian case
1.6 million tons of compostable bioplastics were produced in Italy in 2021, up 25% from 2020. Also because of the national derogation-which is of questionable legitimacy, as noted above-from the bans and limits imposed by theSingle-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive.
According to industry estimates, following the recognition of the Biorepack Consortium, organic recycling of these materials may reach 51.6 thousand tons in 2024. An ‘Italian case,’ where policy has encouraged an innovative industrial sector with, literally, no expense spared.
Organic fraction, recycling on the rise
7.2 million tons (Mt) of organic waste were sent for recycling, in 2020, yielding about 2.2 Mt of compost and about 130 million m3 of biomethane.
Improving facilities to produce quality compost and biomethane remains a priority need.
End-of-life tires, numbers still low
In 2020, more than 442 thousand tons of ELTs (end-of-life tires) were managed in Italy. In 2021, 52% of ELTs were destined for energy recovery, 48% for material recovery.
A ministerial decree for the use of modified asphalt dust is awaited to address the possible restrictions on the use of ELT rubber infills in synthetic fields.
WEEE, collection up but far from EU target
385,000 t of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) was sent for treatment in 2021. +5.3 percent over 2020 but still little compared to the EU target of 65 percent for 2019, all the more so given the pace of growth in industry sales (+16.6 percent in 2021).
Batteries and Accumulators, collection down.
In 2021, 10,200 tons of spent portable batteries and accumulators were collected, down from 2020 (-7.4 percent) and accounting for 32 percent of the input in the last three years, still far from the European target of 45 percent set from 2016.
Spent mineral oils, collection on the rise
77,000 tons of vegetable and animal oils and fats were sent for recycling, up 5% from 2020. Regenerated 98% of the crop.
Vehicles out of service, not yet on line
1.2 Mt of vehicles were processed in 2020, down (-5.8%) from the previous year. The supply chain records a recycling and reuse rate of 84.7 percent by average vehicle weight, in line with the target set in the EU in 2015 (85 percent) but not yet the current target of 95 percent, due to a shortage of facilities.
Textile waste, expected growth
Mandatory separate collection for textiles was introduced in Italy in early 2022, three years ahead of the deadline set in the EU.
Therefore, the amount of textile waste collected and sent for recycling (143,300 tons in 2020, down 9 percent from 2019) is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
Inert waste, a critical stage
Inert construction and demolition waste sent to material recovery in Italy in 2020 was 39.1 Mt, or 77.9 percent of that produced, well above the European target (70 percent).
The DM End of waste, effective 4.11.22, may diminish this performance in prescribing aggregate quality requirements that require new investments.
Street sweeping waste, collection grows
Between 2016 and 2020, street sweeping waste collection doubled, from 215 kt to 422 kt. However, a still significant proportion of these materials are still landfilled without any kind of pretreatment.
Sewage sludge, encouraging recovery
In 2020, the management of sludge from municipal wastewater treatment covered more than 3.4 Mt. 53.5 percent went to disposal operations, 44.1 percent to recovery operations. The Italian disaster continues.
Mineral Oils, high recovery rate
The lubricating oil supply chain in Italy holds a record of excellence in Europe. The used oil recovery rate exceeds 46 percent (41 percent the EU average), and regeneration of collected oil has been established at 98 percent (61 percent in the EU) for several years.
Solvents, the majority recycled
In 2021, solvent wastewater was 77% recycled, 21% disposed of, and 2% sent for energy recovery.
5) (Op)positions to the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Italian recycling and bioplastics industries claim to maintain a leading role, in the circular economy, regardless of its own paradigm, the waste hierarchy or Lansink scale.
The (op)positions expressed to the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation(PPWR) thus tend to favor recycling over:
- reduction of materials. The first circular economy goal has already been betrayed in Italy, where the continued use of single-use plastic items is allowed when made from bioplastics. And the sector industries, ça va sans dire, demand to continue in this direction that is already contrary to EU rules as well as logic,
- Reuse of materials. The recycling industry also asserts primacy over reuse and consequently opposes the DepositReturn System (DRS) as well. (2) Without any consideration, it goes without saying, of the quite different environmental impact of reuse versus producing new materials and disposing of others, perhaps in incinerators.
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) The National Recycling Industry Conference, ‘Recycling Excellence and Future Challenges, is sponsored by the Sustainable Development Foundation in collaboration with Conai, Corriere della Sera’s Planet 2030, under the patronage of the Ministry of ‘Environment and Energy Security and ISPRA. https://www.fondazionesvilupposostenibile.org/conferenza-nazionale-dellindustria-del-riciclo-italia-leader-europeo-di-riciclo-dei-rifiuti-col-72/
(2) Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. Packaging reduction, reuse and recycling in the EU. PPWR’s proposal. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 14.12.22
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
