The Italian law

If there is one area where Italy cannot be said to have inadequate laws is indeed the waste management and separate collection sector.

Still this did not protect us from infringement proceedings brought forth by EU institutions.

The problem, as it is often the case, lies in the practical application of the existing standards. Italy, for instance, transposed the European Directive on Waste (2008/98/CE) setting some very clear recycling goals (amounting to 65% by 2012). Only few regions (in the North) though are close to target.

As concerns bioplastic, since the approval of Legislative Decree 152 of 2006 Italy banished plastic, bags though the process to come to a final solution ended only in August of 2014 with the adoption of specific sanctions for those who sell shoppers that do not comply with the law.

Similar efforts were made to introduce innovative standards to define some minimum rules for green purchases, applicable to collective catering disposable cutlery and tableware. In this case, too, there are many Municipalities that have not yet complied with Green Public Procurement rules.