QUANTITY OF SPECIAL WASTE DISPOSED OF IN LANDFILLS AND NUMBER OF LANDFILLS
The indicator shows the quantity of special waste disposed of in landfills by category and type of waste, as well as the number of landfills. In 2022, the total amount of special waste disposed of in landfills was approximately 8.9 million tons, representing 5% of the total amount of special waste managed nationwide (177 million tons). Compared to 2021, there was a decrease of about 1.3 million tons (-12.6%),…
QUANTITY OF SPECIAL WASTE INCINERATED AND ENERGY RECOVERED, AND NUMBER OF INCINERATION PLANTS
In 2022, 1.1 million tons of special waste were sent for incineration, of which approximately 699,000 tons (63% of the total) were non-hazardous and over 409,000 tons (37% of the total) were hazardous. The total number of plants that received special waste is 70, 27 of which are primarily authorized for the treatment of municipal waste. The majority of these plants are located in the North (43), with 7 in the Center and 20 in the South. In line with the distribution of the incineration plant…
QUANTITY OF SPECIAL WASTE USED AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY IN PRODUCTION PLANTS
The indicator measures the quantity of special waste treated in production plants across the country, used either partially or entirely as a substitute for traditional fuels. In 2022, more than 1.8 million tons of special waste were recovered in co-incineration plants. Compared to 2021, the quantities of energy recovered are substantially stable, showing a slight decrease of about 1,000 tons (-0.1%). The regional distribution shows that the majority of special waste, 75.4% of the total, is…
QUANTITY OF WASTE SENT FOR COMPOSTING AND ANAEROBIC DIGESTION PROCESSES
The indicator measures the amount of waste sent for biological treatment, specifically composting, integrated anaerobic/aerobic treatment, and anaerobic digestion. In 2022, the total amount of waste recovered through biological treatment processes (approximately 8.4 million tons) showed no significant variation, with a slight increase of 47,000 tons (+0.6%) compared to 2021. However, the share of organic waste, which decreased from about 6.8 million tons to approximately 6.7 million tons (79…
QUANTITY OF WASTE SENT FOR MECHANICAL-BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
The indicator measures the quantity of waste sent to mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), which in 2023 amounted to nearly 9 million tonnes. Compared to 2022, an increase of approximately 186,000 tonnes (+2.1%) was observed in the amount of waste treated at MBT facilities. This growth is entirely attributable to the rise in waste classified under Chapter 19 of the European Waste Catalogue (EWC)—waste from waste management facilities, off-site wastewater treatment plants, and water supply…
RECYCLING/RECOVERY OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
Construction and demolition waste represents, in absolute terms, the most significant flow of special waste produced both at the European and national levels. The construction sector, through its intensive use of natural resources, has a strong impact on the environment, leading to the depletion of raw materials due to the extraction of natural aggregates.
For this reason, the European Commission has prioritized the monitoring of construction and demolition waste flows, setting a…
REUSE, RECYCLING, AND RECOVERY RATE OF END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES
The analysis of data for 2022 shows a decrease in the quantities recycled/recovered compared to the previous year. The reasons can be attributed to the decline in the number of annual deregistrations certified by the P.R.A. Register of the Ministry of Transport, the international situation that caused delays in the supply of raw materials for automobile manufacturing, and the resulting crisis in the sector, with significant delays in both production and delivery. Overall, the supply chain…
RECYCLING/RECOVERY OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
I rifiuti da operazioni di costruzione e demolizione costituiscono, in termini assoluti, il flusso più rilevante dei rifiuti speciali prodotti sia a livello europeo sia nazionale. Il settore delle costruzioni, attraverso l’uso intenso delle risorse naturali, genera forti impatti sul territorio e un progressivo impoverimento della materia prima dovuti all'apertura di cave di inerti naturali. La Commissione europea ha, pertanto, ritenuto prioritario monitorare il flusso dei rifiuti provenienti…
SPECIAL WASTE PRODUCTION
In 2022, a year marked by a delicate international geopolitical context, the production of special waste generated by the national production system (industrial, commercial, artisanal, and service activities, as well as waste treatment and environmental remediation) recorded a decline compared to 2021. This trend was similar to that observed for urban waste, with total production amounting to 161.4 million tons…
REUSE, RECYCLING, AND RECOVERY RATE OF END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES
L’analisi dei dati relativi al 2022 mostra quantitativi riciclati/recuperati in diminuzione rispetto all'anno precedente. Le cause possono essere trovate nel calo delle radiazioni annue certificate dal Registro del P.R.A. del Ministero dei Trasporti, nella situazione internazionale che ha generato ritardi nell’approvvigionamento di materie prime per la costruzione delle autovetture e la conseguente crisi del settore, con grandi ritardi sia nella produzione sia nell consegna.…
WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE) RECYCLING RATE
Sotto la spinta delle politiche comunitarie, il flusso dei rifiuti di apparecchiature elettriche ed elettroniche (RAEE) ha assunto un ruolo di primaria importanza all’interno del ciclo dei rifiuti per l’attuazione dei principi dell’economia circolare, anche ai fini dell’approvvigionamento delle Critical Raw Materials. Rispetto alla generalità dei rifiuti, i RAEE si caratterizzano per la presenza al loro interno sia di sostanze pericolose sia di materiali dotati di elevato valore economico.…
PACKAGING WASTE RECYCLING RATE
La normativa europea prevede ambiziosi obiettivi di riciclaggio al 2025 e al 2030 per i rifiuti di imballaggio che rappresentano uno dei principali flussi monitorati. Il tasso di riciclaggio dei rifiuti di imballaggio, calcolato come rapporto tra la quantità di rifiuti riciclati e la quantità di rifiuti prodotti, monitora i progressi verso un'economia circolare valutando il loro reinserimento nei cicli industriali come materie prime secondarie. Nell’ottica di assicurare condizioni uniformi…
WASTE RECYCLING RATE EXCLUDING MAJOR MINERAL WASTES
L’indicatore è utile per monitorare i progressi verso un'economia circolare, consentendo di identificare le quantità di materia reimmessa nell'economia a seguito del trattamento dei rifiuti. Rispetto ai quantitativi complessivamente avviati a operazioni di recupero e smaltimento, più dei tre quarti dei rifiuti trattati vengono riciclati, collocando l’Italia tra i Paesi con il tasso di riciclaggio più alto.
ORGANIC MUNICIPAL WASTE RECYCLING RATE
Nel 2022, il rapporto tra i quantitativi di organico riciclati e i quantitativi raccolti in modo differenziato è pari al 79,9%, dato in calo sia rispetto a quello del 2021 (80,7%) sia quello del 2020 (81,1%).
TOTAL WASTE PRODUCTION EXCLUDING MAJOR MINERAL WASTES
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.
WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (WEEE) RECYCLING RATE
Driven by EU policies, the management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) has become a key aspect of waste management within the circular economy framework, especially concerning the supply of Critical Raw Materials. Unlike general waste, WEEE contains both hazardous substances and valuable materials. Legislative measures aim to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing negative impacts from the design, production, and disposal of electrical and…
WASTE RECYCLING RATE EXCLUDING MAJOR MINERAL WASTES
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.