June 24, 2024, 06:45
3 min read
PALERMO – It’s the day of truth on the waste front. Around two hundred Sicilian mayors are holding their breath waiting for the ordinance promised by the regional government which should put a solution to the problem arising from the stop of Sicula Trasporti’s Tmb plant in Lentini.
Fourth day of stopping unsorted waste
On Saturday the regional councilor for Energy, Roberto Di Mauro, reiterated that the ordinance will allow the temporary transfer of waste, first destined for the Lentini Tmb and then to other landfills, in other plants already authorized on the island. With today’s meeting, meanwhile, the number of days of stopping the collection of unsorted waste has risen to four and concern is rising in Sicilian cities.
Mayors’ last-minute solutions
At the window large centers from one end of Sicily to the other, such as Catania And Marsalabut also the small municipalities which in recent days have still managed to keep up thanks above all to the high percentages of separate waste collection.
Some mayors have issued ordinances to prohibit citizens from depositing unsorted waste, others have equipped themselves with mega bins that allow them to dump waste, removing it from the streets and gaining 72 more hours. Last minute solutions that represent a breath of fresh air for local administrators. Stratagems that have so far made it possible to avert the arrival of the real emergency, complete with landfills on the streets of Sicily.
Spotlight on Catania
The mayor of Catania, Enrico Trantino, published a new video on Sunday in which he reiterated the reassurances received from the Region regarding the extraordinary provision that the governor should sign Renato Schifani. In Catania, although the harvest calendar has helped, the tension is palpable. In fact, large cities suffer from the high share of undifferentiated waste produced daily and which until Friday was transferred to Lentini to be treated.
Messina stands out
However, Messina is outside the risk area, which in recent weeks has completed a tender that will allow the waste to be transferred to a plant in Termini Imerese. “We had also foreseen this in advance and in fact proceeded with a tender to identify a different and more affordable plant than Lentini”, stated the mayor. Federico Basile speaking of a waste crisis born “due to the fault and shortcomings of others”.
Criticisms also come from the regional deputy of South calls North Giuseppe Lombardo, which was the first to raise the alarm on Friday following the closure of the Lentini plant following a provision from the Region and the investigating judge of the Catania court. “An announced disaster – remarked Lombardo, who is also mayor of Roccalumera -. Nobody thought about it in time.”
The Tmb plants registered by the Region
In the Region’s offices, meanwhile, a count is being made of the few Tmb plants available in Sicily. The regional waste plan has registered eight, two of which (that of Trapani Servizi and Lentini) are currently out of play. They stay Cammarata (Traina Srl), Gela (Impianti Srl Ato 4), Palermo (Bellolampo, Rap), Polizzi Generosa (Ecogestioni Srl), Enna (Environment and Technology Srl) e Ragusa (Srr Ato 7). Siciliana landfill about which so much has been written in recent days, could only receive already treated waste and in any case has a reduced capacity.
The ordinance that should arrive today will help clear the fog and to understand, above all, whether the Sicula Trasporti plant will continue to have a role (and if so what kind) in the race against time to avoid yet another waste crisis in Sicily.
Published on
June 24, 2024, 06:45
