La raccolta differenziata: il caso del Comune di Sassari

The city of Sassari (population c. 125,000) collected 6.4% of differentiated waste in 2005, compared with 5.8% the previous year. This increase took place out of total waste collection of 59,286 tons in 2005, compared with 59, 422 tons in 2004.
The total quantify of differentiated waste increased from 3,648 tons in 2004 to 4,030 tons in 2005, and the quantity per head from 29 to 32 kg in the same period.
In May 2006 Sassari City Council set up a new system of differentiated urban waste collection, supported by an extensive publicity campaign and including the placement of containers for differentiated waste alongside the usual waste skips (2,300 for undifferentiated waste and 500 each for paper and card, plastic and tins, glass, and organic waste).
The beginning of differentiated waste collection was accompanied by a publicity campaign which included the distribution of al illustrated leaflet, articles in the local newspapers, and an internet site set up by the city council which explained to citizens the correct way to manage their household waste.
With the new system more than 9,000 tons of differentiated waste was collected in 2006, which was equivalent to 16.21% of total waste, while in the first three months of 2007 the figure rose appreciably to 24,00% of total waste collected.
The percentage is still far from the minimum of 35% established by the “Ronchi Decree” (D.l.vo 22/97) as to be met by 2003, although the deadline was later shifted to 2006 in the “Testo Unico Ambientale” D.l.vo n.152/06.
The data from the regional waste survey shows the changes in the last few years. In 2002 the quantity of differentiated waste collected in Sardinia was 2.8% of the total, while by 2006 this had risen to 18-20% thanks to initiatives taken by 80% of Sardinian local authorities.
This study takes evaluates the stage of development of differentiated waste collection by Sassari City Council in the light of the new strategies of the administration, in compliance with the regional plan for waste, approved on 12 December 2006. This established objectives for differentiated waste of 30% of total waste by 2008, an objective which, after the approval of the new regulations which govern differentiated waste, must be achieved in 2007.
The factors which may prevent these percentages being achieved in the brief period of time established in the Regional Plan are also evaluated in the paper.