Είσοδος
The project entitled 'Home Composting for Municipal Waste Reduction' was completed in 2009 with the acquisition of means and tools to start separate waste collection in Licata. This practice continued until 2016. Analysing the data from https://www.catasto-rifiuti.isprambiente.it, we observe that in 2013, 8.28% of waste was differentiated in the municipality of Licata, but in the following years this percentage gradually decreased, reaching 0.84% in 2017. Initially, we could not explain this drastic decrease, but our research revealed that Dedalo Ambiente had seen a €300,000 funding revoked, destined for the 'Home Composting and Urban Waste Reduction' project managed by the same organisation. The revocation decree was issued by the director general of the department, Maurizio Pirillo, following criticalities that emerged. According to the decree, it emerged during the inspection that Dedalo Ambiente was requested, on 20 September 2016, to provide a detailed list of private users to whom the compost bins had been delivered, as well as a complete overview of the distribution of all the equipment purchased. However, the response to this request was not clear and definitive.
In the years when separate collection was carried out, citizens were given incentives to continue the good practice of sorting. The ISPRA graphs show that in 2019 there is 8.26 % separate collection, rising to 33.74 % in 2022. This increase coincides with the distribution of containers to citizens. Other significant figures that emerge from the tables examined are:
- The decrease in the number of inhabitants by almost 5000 from 2010 to 2022;
- The persistence of the urban waste production figure;
- The increase in the pro capite production of separate waste (from 26.24 kg in 2010 to 196.57 in 2022).
The decrease in the population is an alarming fact, the causes of which are to be found in factors such as emigration and the decreasing birth rate. The fact that the amount of waste has remained unchanged means that there is more waste production caused by increased consumption, while the increase in the pro capite production of sorted waste means that the practice of waste separation is considered useful by citizens.
However, at present, the problem of waste, its management and disposal persists and it is becoming increasingly serious. Just a few days ago on 20th January 2024, a fire broke out in a bulky waste dump, releasing dangerous gases that are still being investigated by the authorities.
