The recycling industry
continues to grow, a report by Confindustria industrialists
association and the Sustainable Development Foundation (FSS)
showed Wednesday.
Growth sectors include packaging, electric and electronic
equipment, organic waste, and used tires, according to the
report.
This sector has proven to a be a pillar of Italy's economy
in spite of a fall in household and industrial waste, with 66%
or 7.8 million tons of packaging recycled in 2014 (+2% on the
previous year).
Paper (80%), steel (74%), aluminum (74%) and glass (70%)
also showed significant recycling rates.
Last year also saw the recycling of 5.7 tons of organic
materials (+9.5% over 2013), 129,000 tons of old tires, and
124,000 tons of textiles (+12%).
"In Italy, recycling has managed to hold up against the
recession and to remain competitive," said Anselmo Calo from
Confindustria's Unire.
"We must discourage disposal in landfills, improve the
quality of the materials collected, and simplify regulations".
Recycling in Italy has reached European levels, albeit not
evenly across its regions, said FSS chief Edo Ronchi.
"The regions that have fallen behind must be brought up to
speed," he said.
"We must improve recycling practices and invest in sector
innovation and industrialization".
Italy also imports and exports waste, the report showed.
In 2014 it imported 5.9 million tons, 77% of which was
scrap metal, and exported 3.8 million tons (24% plastic and
paper, 60% hazardous waste).
Importing is done mostly by firms in northern Italy, which
receive 96% of the merchandise, while 40% of the exporting is
done by companies in the southern and central regions.
At least 99% of the imported waste comes from other
European countries, which also receive 77% of Italy's exports.
Between 2009 and 2014, the amount of waste imported rose by
60% and the amount exported by 10%, the report said.
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