The Italian waste system is going through a moment of serious crisis. There is a lack of facilities to recover collected but unused recyclable materials, urban garbage and regenerable waste. The closed market and crazy prices can unfortunately lead to problems of legality and crime. This is what is happening to the waste paper market in a period of emergency in waste management.
Read more: the alarm of companies in the paper and cardboard sector
Recycling paper and cardboard today is a cost for everyone. Waste producers are forced to pay for the recovery of the same rather than being recognized an economic compensation for the good management and compliance with the principles that the Circular Economy has spread. But for what causes? The value of waste paper has returned to historic lows for several reasons: changes in the international scenario where there is a surplus of waste paper on all other markets due to the trade war between China and the USA. The consequent possible closure of companies in the paper and cardboard recovery sector risks having a strong impact on cities that are unable to collect cardboard for recycling due to high prices. The changes in the international scene also have repercussions in our country, where the average price of cardboard recorded a collapse of 25% from January to May 2019. Due to a lack of intelligent and sustainable attitude of national public opinion, which does not see waste management as a resource, plants for the final disposal of non-recyclable waste are less and less available; this results in an insane increase in disposal costs that has an economic impact on the supply chains, up to the possible total block of the collection and disposal cycle. Last but not least, there is a problem related to the legality of disposal operations. There is no doubt that the value of recovered materials can, by undergoing fluctuations, lead to costs and not always revenues. If this is not understood and foreseen, there is a risk of giving space to companies that do not operate in respect of the environment. For more information visit the link or download the attached article, taken from Il Sole 24 Ore.
Articolo_Il Sole 24 Ore_Sistema waste. Italy towards total paralysis
