In Sardinia, more than 154,200 tonnes of packaging waste were diverted from landfill and transferred to CONAI in 2022 (latest available data) thanks to the agreements signed between the Municipalities of the Region and the CONAI Supply Chain Consortia. A quantity of waste which, if placed in bins, could cover the Cagliari-Geneva road section more than three times, also taking into account the stretch of sea between Olbia and Livorno to be covered by ship.

This was made known by the National Packaging Consortium in drawing up a balance sheet and summary of the sustainable performance of the Italian Regions in the collection of packaging.

To cover part of the costs of separate packaging collection, in 2022 CONAI transferred over 25 million and 820,000 euros to the Municipalities of Sardinia, as required by the current Anci-CONAI Agreement. A figure slightly growing compared to the 25 million and 559,000 euros awarded in 2021.

The data fits into a regional picture that remains positive.

«Sardinia separates more than 75% of its urban waste , as shown by the latest data provided by the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research», says Luca Piatto, CONAI manager of relations with the territory. «A percentage that allows the Region to place itself in second place in the ranking of the most virtuous at a national level. All the provinces well exceed 70% of separate waste collection , and the environmental culture of well-done separate waste collection seems widespread. CONAI's intervention on the regional territory remained substantially stable during 2022. But the fees that the Consortium paid to the Sardinian municipalities have increased slightly, a sign that the quality of the separate waste collection carried out by citizens has improved: the inhabitants of the Region separate well and in general have made fewer errors".

According to the latest ISPRA data, the most virtuous provinces are those of Oristano and Nuoro: both reach 80% of separate waste collection (79.7% and 79.4% respectively).

From the citizens of the province of Oristano, CONAI receives almost 96 kg of correctly differentiated packaging per capita (in 2021 it was 89.6 kg); from the citizens of the Nuoro area almost 100 kg of packaging (stable compared to 2021).

Bronze medal goes to Southern Sardinia, which exceeds 78.5% waste separation. According to the latest CONAI report, over 100 kg of packaging per capita arrived at the Consortium from the citizens of the province.

«With 71.5% of recycled packaging, Italy is already a leader in Europe in this branch of the circular economy» comments Piatto. «All the Regions contribute to achieving this result: citizens' commitment is essential. Sardinia confirms itself as a very virtuous region, but this must continue

effort, which requires continuity, and paying ever greater attention to the quality of the collection: small errors in disposal compromise large quantities of material that could be reborn through recycling". Among CONAI's recommendations in this regard, «receipts must be thrown away in the unsorted waste. It is in fact chemical paper, not recyclable" , explains Luca Piatto.

«Even waxed paper and baking paper don't go with paper. Plastic packaging should always be emptied, and bottles should be crushed along the long side, and not from top to bottom. Furthermore, crystal should not be conferred with glass: it contains lead, and a few fragments of crystal compromise large quantities of recyclable glass."

(Unioneonline/lf)

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