The indicator measures the quantities of Waste from Economic Activities exported for recovery and disposal. In 2024, the total amount of Waste from Economic Activities exported was approximately 5.1 million tonnes, of which 3.3 million tonnes consisted of non-hazardous waste (65.9% of the total) and 1.7 million tonnes of hazardous waste (34.1% of the total). The largest quantities of waste were exported to Germany and Austria, amounting to approximately 1.1 million tonnes and 714 thousand tonnes, respectively. 

The indicator measures the quantities of Waste from Economic Activities imported for recovery in production activities. In 2024, Waste from Economic Activities imported into Italy (over 7 million tonnes) consisted almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (98.4%); hazardous waste amounted to 115 thousand tonnes (1.6% of total imports). The largest quantity originated from Germany, at over 1.7 million tonnes (24.6% of total imports), consisting almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (hazardous waste amounted to only 7,129 tonnes), followed by France, with over 1 million tonnes (14.4% of the total). Waste imported from these countries was predominantly metallic. 

In 2024, the overall production of Waste from Economic Activities generated by the national production system (industrial, commercial, artisanal, and service activities, as well as waste treatment and environmental remediation) will show significant growth, reaching over 172 million tonnes (+4.6% compared to 2023, corresponding to almost 7.6 million tonnes).

Non-hazardous Waste from Economic Activities, which represents 93.7% of total waste produced, shows an increase of almost 7 million tonnes (+4.5%), while hazardous waste, on the other hand, increases by 612 thousand tonnes (+6.0%).

With regard to the construction sector, the incentives provided by the Government for the renovation of buildings aimed at energy requalification continued. These construction/renovation works, together with construction sites for infrastructure and public works and residential and commercial buildings, also supported by funding provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), have generated increased quantities of construction and demolition waste.

In 2024, approximately 1.1 million tonnes of Waste from Economic Activities were sent for incineration, of which almost 640 thousand tonnes (59.1% of the total) were non-hazardous and over 443 thousand tonnes (40.9%) were hazardous. Overall, 78 operational incineration plants treated this waste, of which 43 were located in Northern Italy, 8 in Central Italy and 27 in Southern Italy. Consistent with the geographical distribution of incineration capacity, the largest share was treated in plants located in Northern Italy (82.4% of the total, corresponding to 892 thousand tonnes), followed by Southern Italy with 14.4% (156 thousand tonnes) and Central Italy with 3.2% (almost 35 thousand tonnes). 

The indicator shows the quantity of Waste from Economic Activities disposed of in landfills by category and type of waste and the number of landfills. In 2024, the total quantity of Waste from Economic Activities disposed of in landfills amounted to 7.7 million tonnes, equal to 4.1% of the total quantity of Waste from Economic Activities managed nationally (187 million tonnes). Compared to 2023, this represents a decrease of approximately 154,000 tonnes (-2%). The total number of operational landfills is 244: 103 landfills for inert waste (42% of the total operating facilities), 130 landfills for non-hazardous waste (53% of the total), and 11 landfills for hazardous waste (5% of the total). Analyzing the three-year period 2022-2024, there is a progressive a progressive decrease in the total number of  operational landfills ranging from 261 in 2022, to 249 in 2023, and 244 in 2024.

The indicator measures the total amount of Waste from Economic Activities sent for recovery operations (R1–R12) listed in Annex C to Legislative Decree No 152/2006. In 2024, the amount of Waste from Economic Activities recovered was substantial, accounting for 75.2% of the total waste managed (187.2 million tonnes), with a steadily increasing trend (+8.8% over the last three years). The total amount of Waste from Economic Activities recovered was 140.8 million tonnes, of which 4.3 million tonnes were hazardous. Lombardy recorded the largest amount of Waste from Economic Activities recovered (26.3% of the total recovered), followed by Veneto (10.8%) and Emilia-Romagna (8.7%). 

The indicator measures the quantity of Waste from Economic Activities co-incinerated in production plants across the country, totally or partially replacing traditional fuels. In 2024, approximately 1.8 million tons of Waste from Economic Activities  were recovered in co-incineration plants. Compared to 2023, the quantities recovered showed a decrease of almost 68,000 tons (-3.7%). With reference to the macro-geographical areas, the data show that the majority of special waste is recovered in the North (77.1% of the total), followed by Central Italy, with 11.6%, and the South with 11.3%.

Construction and demolition waste represents, in absolute terms, the largest stream of hazardous waste generated at both the European and national levels. The construction sector, through its intensive use of natural resources, generates significant impacts on the local environment and a progressive depletion of raw materials due to the opening of natural aggregate quarries. The European Commission has therefore deemed it a priority to monitor the flow of waste from construction and demolition activities by setting, in Article 11 of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, a specific target for preparing for reuse, recycling, and other types of material recovery, including backfilling operations that use waste as a substitute for other materials. In 2024, the recovery and recycling rate of construction and demolition waste is expected to be 82.4%, above the 70% target set for 2020 by Directive 2008/98/EC.

An analysis of the 2024 data shows an increase in recycled/recovered quantities compared to the previous year. This overall figure is consistent with the trend observed in annual deregistrations certified by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport's Public Vehicle Register. Overall, the supply chain achieves a reuse and recycling rate of almost 86.7% of the average vehicle weight, above the 85% target set for 2015 by Article 7, paragraph 2 of Legislative Decree 209/2003.

In 2024, compared to the 2.3% increase recorded for the production of urban waste, the Italian economy recorded, compared to 2023, a growth in Gross Domestic Product and Final Consumption Expenditure on the national territory, equal, for both socio-economic indicators, to 0.7%.

The indicator measures the national average cost incurred by municipalities to provide the urban sanitation service, expressed per inhabitant and per kg of waste generated. In 2024, the average annual management cost was EUR 214.4 per inhabitant and 41.8 euro cents per kg of municipal waste generated.

At macro-geographical area level, the total annual per capita cost of the service was highest in Central Italy, at EUR 256.6 per inhabitant, corresponding to 47.4 euro cents/kg, followed by Southern Italy, at EUR 229.2 per inhabitant, corresponding to 49.8 euro cents/kg, and Northern Italy, at EUR 187.2 per inhabitant, corresponding to 35.0 euro cents/kg.

In 2024, national municipal waste (MW) generation stood at just over 29.9 million tonnes, increasing by 2.3%, corresponding to 664 thousand tonnes, compared with 2023.

In 2024, the ratio of the quantities of organic waste recycled to the quantities collected separately was 82.1%, increasing both compared with 2023 (80.9%) and with 2022 (79.9%).

European legislation sets ambitious recycling targets for 2025 and 2030 for packaging waste, which represents one of the main waste streams monitored. The recycling rate of packaging waste, calculated as the ratio between the quantity of waste recycled and the quantity of waste generated, monitors progress towards a circular economy by assessing its reintroduction into industrial cycles as secondary raw materials.

With a view to ensuring uniform conditions for measuring the new targets, based on the actual quantity of packaging waste reprocessed into new products, materials or substances, stringent calculation methodologies have been defined at European level. With the application of the new methodologies, the targets set for 2025 have already been achieved for all packaging fractions, including plastics.

For the plastic fraction, however, increasing recycling remains a priority in view of the 2030 target (55%), including through the development of new treatment technologies, especially for those types of waste that are currently difficult to recover through mechanical processes.

In 2024, the preparing for re-use and recycling rate, calculated using Method 4 and excluding C&D waste from households, stood at 52.3%, thus exceeding the target set for 2020 (50%).

The indicator measures the quantity of waste sent to biological treatment and, in particular, to composting, integrated anaerobic/aerobic treatment and anaerobic digestion. In 2024, the total quantity of waste recovered through biological treatment processes, approximately 9.3 million tonnes, increased by 518 thousand tonnes compared with 2023, corresponding to +5.9%.

A similar trend was also observed for the share of organic waste from separate collection, whose managed quantity increased from 6.9 million tonnes to approximately 7.2 million tonnes, showing a rise of 271 thousand tonnes (+3.9%).

In 2024, the quantity of municipal waste incinerated, including SRF, solid recovered fuel, the dry fraction and biodried waste obtained from the treatment of municipal waste, amounted to almost 5.5 million tonnes, corresponding to a 0.7% decrease compared with 2023. Of this waste, 74.8% was treated in Northern Italy, 8.1% in Central Italy and 17.1% in Southern Italy. The incineration capacity is mainly located in the northern regions, with 25 facilities, while 4 and 6 plants were operational in Central and Southern Italy, respectively.

In 2024, the total amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfills amounted to over 4.4 million tonnes, and the number of operational landfills is equal to 102 plants. There was a reduction, compared to 2023, in the total quantity of urban waste disposed of in landfill equal to 3.7% (-170 thousand tons), and in the number of operational sites equal to 8.9% (-10 facilities). 

In 2024, the separate collection rate was 67.7% of national municipal waste generation, increasing by 1.1 percentage points compared with 2023 and remaining above the target set by legislation for 2012 (65%).
 

The indicator measures the quantity of waste sent to mechanical/mechanical-biological treatment, which in 2024 amounted to a total of 9 million tonnes. Compared with 2023, an increase of more than 91 thousand tonnes (+1%) was observed in the quantities treated in the plants under consideration, attributable exclusively to an increase in the quantities of waste falling under Chapter 19 of the European Waste List and generated from the treatment of municipal waste.

Conversely, a 4.4% reduction, corresponding to approximately 308 thousand tonnes, was recorded in the quantity of mixed waste, together with a 3.4% decrease in special waste, corresponding to approximately 10 thousand tonnes.

Under the pressure of community policies, the flow of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has assumed a role of primary importance within the waste cycle for the implementation of the principles of the circular economy, also for the purposes of the supply of Critical Raw Materials. Compared to waste in general, WEEE is characterized by the presence within it of both dangerous substances and materials with high economic value. The legislative provisions have therefore established measures aimed at protecting the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the negative impacts deriving from the design, production of electrical and electronic equipment and the production and management of waste resulting from them. The recycling industry becomes fundamental for the transition towards the circular economy: in fact, it allows material flows deriving from waste recovery to be reintroduced into production cycles, increasing the efficiency of resources to achieve sustainable development objectives and avoiding the importation of raw materials. Given an overall collection of WEEE equal to approximately 510 thousand tonnes in 2023, the percentage of preparation for reuse and recycling is equal to 84.2% and that of overall recovery is 93.9%.

The indicator evaluates the pressures on the environment and the efficiency of resources used by the economy to generate wealth, as well as its progress toward achieving a circular economy. In 2022, the ratio of national waste production to gross domestic product (GDP) was slightly above the European average (66 kg/1,000€ vs. 60 kg/1,000€). Overall, the economic system still appears unable to limit waste production in relation to the wealth produced. 

The indicator is useful for monitoring progress toward a circular economy, allowing for the identification of the quantities of materials reintroduced into the economy following waste treatment. Compared to the total amount of waste sent for recovery and disposal operations, more than three-quarters of the treated waste is recycled, placing Italy among the countries with the highest recycling rates.