Waste: Comieco, Italy recycles 3.6 million tons of paper

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 14 - Over 3.6 million tons of cellulosic materials collected from municipalities throughout Italy.

   Emilia-Romagna is confirmed in first place with 88.4 kg collected by each citizen;

immediately after Tuscany (85.5) and Valle d'Aosta (75 kg).

Results that can still be improved: the overall growth space is worth at least 800 thousand tons, for an Italy increasingly in the wake of the circular economy.

    Italy is once again European champion, but this time in the name of sustainability.

This was established by the twenty-seventh Annual Report on the separate collection and recycling of paper and cardboard in Italy presented by Comieco, the National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-Based Packaging.

In 2021, more than 3.6 million tons of cellulosic material were separated overall across the country.

In particular, Southern Italy saw a positive growth of 4.3% thanks to the commitment of companies such as Messina, ranked this year as leaders among the most virtuous municipalities in Italy, chosen precisely as the location for the presentation of national data.

    "2021 was again marked by positive growth for our country in the separate collection of paper and cardboard: 3.2% more than in 2020" declared AlbertoMarchi, President of Comieco.

"Thanks to the coordinated action of citizens, municipalities and managers - he adds -, for the first time in 2021 we exceeded 60 kilograms of material collected per inhabitant at national level. The South confirms also in 2021 the increase in the separate collection of paper and cardboard and its recovery path towards the North eCentro macro-areas with 38,000 tons more: growth of 4.3%, better than the previous year ".

    Carlo Montalbetti, General Manager of Comieco underlined: "Through the 983 active agreements, in 2021 Comieco paid the Municipalities 218 million euros, with an increase of 44% compared to 2020, for the taking over and recycling of more than 2, 5 million tons, equal to approximately 70% of municipal separate waste collection in Italy: the maximum amount managed in many years of history ".

   (HANDLE).