ASSOAMBIENTE Report “ITALY THAT RECYCLES”

Assoambiente’s annual report “Italy that Recycles – 2022” was presented.

According to the Report, Italy ranks first at European level for the rate at which waste (both urban and special) is sent for recycling, compared to the total waste managed. The Italian result (83.2% – year 2020) is significantly higher than both the EU average (39.2%) and the major EU countries: Spain (60.5%), France (54.4%) and Germany (44%).

Looking at the circularity rate of materials (share of material recycled and reintroduced into the economy in the overall use of materials), Italy (21.6%) is just below the record of France (22.2%) and still above Germany (13.4%) and Spain (11.2%) and, more generally, above the EU average (12.8%).

Considering, on the other hand, the number of material recovery plants, Italy ranks second (6,456 plants) behind Germany (10,497) and ahead of Spain (4,007): the Italian record, however, is characterised by a high number of small to medium-sized plants, mostly located in the Centre-North of the country.

In 2020, about 4.2 million tonnes of waste were exported from Italy (over 3.6 million tonnes of industrial waste and just over 581 thousand tonnes of urban waste), sent across the border where they are mostly sent for recovery (a paradox to be overcome by activating the appropriate incentives and plant investment levers).

Read more at the following link.