One million tons of waste buried in the former industrial area to be disposed of. The reclamation of the Site of National Interest (SIN) of the Calabrian city, which in the past was the most important industrial center in Calabria, is raising alarm in Crotone due to the possible environmental consequences. The area was acquired by Eni Rewind which presented an operational reclamation project.
The area affected by the Sin extends for approximately 884 hectares, while the area bordered by the sea is 1,448 hectares, including the port area. 49% of waste is non-hazardous. The rest is characterized, however, by the presence of heavy metals (35%) such as cadmium, zinc and arsenic; tenorm (5%) material that increases natural radioactivity, and tenorm mixed with asbestos (11%). In particular, the waste to be reclaimed in the area of the former Fosfotec landfill amounts to 372,880 tonnes; those present in the landfill of the former Pertusola site at 457,200 tons and 200 thousand tons those buried in the former Pertusola site.
The debate in Crotone on the Sin reclamation project is particularly heated and the "game" being played, even on a political level, is complex. A 2020 ordinance from the Ministry of the Environment, which accepted the restriction included in the single authorization procedure (Paur) placed in 2019 by the Calabria Region, obliges Eni Rewind to dispose of this enormous mass of waste outside Calabria. But Eni Rewind itself, last November, reiterated what it had already highlighted in 2021 to the Office of the Government Commissioner for Reclamation, namely that there are no landfills in Italian territory where it is possible to dispose of waste containing tenorm and asbestos other than the one in Crotone. , owned by the Sovreco company.
For this reason Eni Rewind has asked for a review of the project aimed at abolishing Paur. Request which will be discussed on May 3rd during a Services Conference called by the Ministry of the Environment.