There paper collected through waste separation is divided into two large groups: white and non-white. From there originates the next process, which will transform used paper and cardboard into sheets of coated cardboard.
This is the job of Pirinoli paper mill of Roccavione (Cn), Piedmontese and Italian excellence in the field of recycling with more than 150 years of history. From there, in front of the Alps, the national campaign began The construction sites of the ecological transition of Legambiente, which kicked off on 11 April with a tour inside the plant. The guide was Silvano Carlettopassionate president of the board of directors of the paper mill, today an employee cooperative (76 members out of 96 total) which in 2015 reopened the plant which had failed the year before after a difficult period of corporate crises and changes in ownership.
The work of Legambienteat the 18th stage in journey through virtuous examples of ecological transition (the premiere of 2024), is also to show how this kind of activity is not only a panacea for the environmentbut they also have important implications on the economic and employment level. Today the paper mill has a turnover of 45 million a year, almost as in the past (previously it stood at 50 million). «The town has a close relationship with Pirinoli – says the mayor of Roccavione, Germana Avena – and the introduction of door-to-door collection in 1996 had a considerable effect». Much, in fact, depends on the quality of separate waste collection, where waste is filtered and divided by type, facilitating the reprocessing work. «In twenty minutes, from the beginning to the end of the route, we go from paper bales to cardboard reels of 10 km each. Our market is 50% in Italy and 50% abroad”, comments Silvano Carletto.
«This reality is strategic for the objectives of the campaign – adds Giorgio Zampetti, national director of Legambiente – Why we want to talk about how environmental issues are in synergy with the economy and employment». Reason why, with Legacoop Piedmont, Legambiente Piedmont, Legambiente Valle d’Aosta And Comeco (National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-based Packaging) the idea is to promote the opening of this kind of reality to the public. Even in conjunction with the Paper Week. «It would be nice – underlines Carlo Montalbetti, general director Comeco – that a signal arrived towards Confindustria: open the facilities. Raising people’s awareness means doing waste separation wellwhich in itself avoids the production of CO2 for an amount equal to 15 days of vehicular traffic in Italy”.
Our country, moreover, has already reached theEuropean target of 85% paper recycling and cardboard fixed by 2030. At least on this, Italy is at the forefront.
Out of 10,000 tons of paper collectedhowever, at the end of the process they still remain 500 tons of non-recyclable waste which unfortunately ends up in landfill, a theme on which Carletto intends to work. The entire process serves to eliminate most non-paper substances, such as glass (thrown into the paper collection by mistake), but also sand and plastic. Indeed, over the years, once an old pistol was found and another time a hand grenade, fortunately without consequences. The paper, however, is shredded, mixed with water and filtered, to then be spread out, pressed, dried and recomposed into four different layers, the first of which is white. Then, at the end, three more layers of calcium carbonate patina (marble dust arriving from Carrara) and kaolin are applied, so that the surface becomes printable.
The production of the Pirinoli paper mill is mainly used for product packaging. In all this, the large investment made in recent years is important, between a water purification plant capable of satisfying a town of 25,000 inhabitants, and a gas and steam plant (7 million in 2019) combined with new presses (6 million in August 2023) to reduce energy needs. «We have always been immersed in recycling – concludes Carletto – and we have also recovered a failed company».
by Giacomo Talignani
6 min read
by Elisabetta Ambrosi
5 min read
