MESSINA – With the closure of the Lentini landfill, the collection of dry waste in Messina and its province is at risk. The mayor of Messina Federico Basile intervenes on the problem of unsorted waste, which affects eastern Sicily and reassures: “The system in Sicily does not work but Messina is unscathed and free from the risk of mountains of waste. This level of virtuousness in terms of waste in the Municipality of Messina was achieved thanks to separate waste collection, which effectively reduced the tons of undifferentiated waste for which there is no facility where it can be disposed of. And what’s more, as of today, the only monopoly plant created by the Sicilian Region has closed due to lack of regional authorizations. We had also foreseen this in advance and in fact proceeded with a competition to identify a different system and at lower costs. So we can say that Messina, thanks to careful planning, will not suffer a state of waste crisis due to the fault and shortcomings of others.”
At the center of the issue is the indefinite suspension of waste treatment activity at the Tmb plant in the Coda Volpe district of Lentini. A stop ordered by the administration of Sicula Ambiente, the company that manages the landfill, following the provision of the regional Territory and Environment department of 10 June. Provision which denied the authorization to continue the activity pending verification of its suitability for the Environmental Impact Assessment (ViaI).
“Messina a virtuous exception also in the reduction of tariffs”
“These are cyclical moments of a system that has never worked, the consequences of which fall on us mayors who are forced to increase tariffs, except in Messina – Basile points out – where from this year they have been reduced by 30%, despite the cost of exorbitant disposal of the plants where the Sicilian Region forces us to go. On the other hand, the Honorable Cateno De Luca had already anticipated in 2021, in his capacity as mayor of Messina, how much the system had collapsed and in contrast the promises of the Musumeci waste-to-energy plants which we are still waiting for. The reality, however, sees the city of Messina unscathed and free from the risk of mountains of waste as are evident and seen in other Sicilian cities”.
