IMPORT OF NON-HAZARDOUS AND HAZARDOUS SPECIAL WASTE

    Descrizione 1
    Update date
    Authors

    Gabriella Aragona, Lucia Muto

    Abstract
    Immagine
    Abstract

    The indicator measures the amount of special waste imported for recovery in production activities. In 2022, the special waste imported into Italy amounted to approximately 6.9 million tons, consisting almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (98.5%). Hazardous waste accounted for only 106,000 tons (1.5% of total imports). The largest quantity came from Germany, about 1.8 million tons (26.1% of total imports), consisting almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (hazardous waste amounted to just 4,650 tons), predominantly metallic waste. France followed, with over 1 million tons (15.6% of the total), also mainly consisting of metallic waste. 

    Description

    The indicator provides information on the types of waste imported into the national territory, specifying the country of origin and the destination region.

    Purpose

    To analyze the types of waste imported for recovery in production activities. 

    Policy relevance and utility for users
    It is of national scope or it is applicable to environmental issues at the regional level but of national relevance.
    It can describe the trend without necessarily evaluating it.
    It is simple and easy to interpret.
    It provides a representative picture of environmental conditions, environmental pressures, and societal responses
    It provides a basis for international comparisons.
    Analytical soundness
    Be based on international standards and international consensus about its validity;
    Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
    Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
    Temporal comparability
    Spatial comparability
    Measurability (data)
    Adequately documented and of known quality
    Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
    Readily available or made available at a reasonable cost/benefit ratio
    An “adequate” spatial coverage
    An “appropriate” temporal coverage
    Main regulatory references and objectives
    • Basel Convention (March 22, 1989) on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal, with subsequent amendments. 

    • OECD Decision C(2001)107 on the control of transboundary movements of waste intended for recovery. 

    • Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 and amendments, governing waste shipments between EU Member States, including through third countries. 

    • Regulation (EC) No. 1418/2007 and amendments, concerning the export of certain waste for recovery to countries not subject to the OECD Decision. 

    There are no specific targets set by the regulations. 

    DPSIR
    Pressure
    Response
    Indicator type
    Descriptive (A)
    References

    ISPRA - Rapporto Rifiuti Speciali Edizione 2024

    Frequenza di rilevazione dei dati
    Annuale
    Fonte dei dati
    ISPRA
    Data availabilty

    ISPRA, Banca dati MUD, non accessibile al pubblico

    Spatial coverage

    National, Regional

    Time coverage

    2010-2022

    Processing methodology

    The quantities of imported special waste are analyzed by individual EWC (European Waste Catalogue) code, by country of origin, and by destination region. 

    Update frequency
    Year
    Qualità dell'informazione

    The indicator provides information on the types of imported waste managed within the national territory. Data is collected using standardized regional methodologies and validated through shared methodologies, ensuring comparability over time and space. 

    State
    Good
    Trend
    Positive
    State assessment/description

    The special waste imported into Italy in 2022, totaling approximately 6.9 million tons, consisted almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (98.5%). Hazardous waste accounted for only 106,000 tons (1.5% of total imports). About 76.4% of imported waste (approximately 5.3 million tons) consisted of metallic waste, which is recovered within the production cycle of metallurgical industries. This is considered a positive indicator, as it reduces the use of raw materials. 

    Trend assessment/description

    The positive trend observed in previous years continued in 2022, with a 40% increase in imported waste between 2010 and 2022 (Table 1). 

    Comments

    The total amount of special waste imported into Italy in 2022 was approximately 6.9 million tons. The largest quantity came from Germany, with around 1.8 million tons, consisting almost entirely of non-hazardous waste (hazardous waste amounted to only 4,650 tons), predominantly metallic in nature (Table 2 and Figure 1). 

    Lombardy is the leading region for waste imports, with 3.3 million tons (48.5% of the total), mainly consisting of metallic waste. This aligns with the region’s industrial focus on metallurgy and steel production (Table 3). Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto follow, accounting for 28.1% and 11.7% of total imports, respectively. In these regions as well, imports consist almost entirely of metallic waste, which is reused in production cycles. 

    Construction and demolition waste accounts for 36.2% of total non-hazardous waste imports (2.4 million tons) (Figure 2). The largest category of non-hazardous imported waste (42%, or 2.8 million tons) consists of “waste from waste treatment facilities,” with a predominance of “ferrous metals,” “wood,” and “iron and steel shavings.” The significant import of scrap metal is further confirmed by the high percentage of “waste from metal and plastic processing and treatment” (17.3%), which is mostly metallic. 

    Regarding hazardous special waste, “waste from thermal processes” represents the largest imported category, accounting for 67% (Figure 3). 

    Data
    Headline

    Table 1: Special waste imported into Italy

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Headline

    Table 2: Special waste imported by country of origin

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Headline

    Table 3: Waste imported by region of destination (2022)

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figure 1: Special waste imported by country of origin (2022)

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figure 2: Non-hazardous special waste imported by European Waste Catalogue chapter, 2022

    Data source

    ISPRA

    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figure 3: Hazardous special waste imported by European Waste Catalogue chapter, 2022

    Data source

    ISPRA

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