Italy north recycles, south lags behind

(ANSA) - Rome, October 30 - Italy's cities and towns are improving their waste separation and CO2 emission records, although overall they are still far from achieving European Union-imposed targets, according to data released Thursday.
    The report by the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) and the National Packaging Consortium (CONAI) showed six municipalities of varying sizes did reach EU 2020 targets. The northern cities of Trento and Pordenone and the Tuscan town of Capannori achieved recycling targets, while the northern cities of Belluno, Perugia and Treviso reached CO2 emission reduction targets.
    As well, seven central and northern regions are recycling more than 50% of their trash. These are Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Trentino and Veneto.
    The south, however, lags behind and Italy might incur EU fines if it does nothing to help its impoverished southern regions implement recycling and CO2 reduction programs, the report said.
    "The southern problem is enormous," said ANCI delegate Filippo Bernocchi. "The way things are, it will be impossible for Calabria and Sicily, for example, to achieve 50% recycling by 2020".