Environmental statistics are receiving growing attention, as a consequence of European strategies, which aim at integrating the environmental, social and economic dimensions of policies and strengthening environmental legislation in the Member States. In other words, European strategies require greater efforts to protect the environment. The proposed indicators are a useful tool for outlining the state of the art and monitoring the efforts of Public Administrations to protect the environment and improve citizens’ quality of life.
Briefly
- In 2019, in Italy, the municipal production of waste and the relative share of landfill disposal decreased; instead, separate collection and recycling continued to increase. However, not all the targets set by the EU have been achieved yet.
- Anticipatory estimates indicated that in Italy, between 2019 and 2020, there was a marked decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions, going from -2.8% to -9.2%, as a consequence of the mobility restrictions and the slowdown in economic activities due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
- In 2020, more than a third of the population considered air pollution as one of the main environmental problems, especially in urban areas. A fifth of families complained about the presence of unpleasant smells.
- Between 2012 and 2018, water losses in public water supply networks worsened. The volume of water not reaching the end consumers rose from 37.4% to 42.0%.
- In 2019, the number of bathing areas in Italy amounted to 5,535 sites. The South and islands of Italy had 60.3% of the total sites. The majority of Italian sites (88.4%) complied with the most rigorous quality standards.
ITALY
An overview
In 2019, the municipal waste produced in Italy amounted to 30.1 million tons, (-0.3% compared to 2018), while the per capita production, equal to 503.6 kg per inhabitant, increased (+0.9%). Between 2018 and 2019, despite the slight decrease in total municipal waste, the per capita quantity was higher due to the decreasing population (-1.1%). Therefore, in recent years the trend has not reversed, despite the policies aimed at the prevention and reduction of waste and its environmental impact.
MUNICIPAL WASTE IN ITALY-KG PER INHABITANT (INDEX NUMBERS 2004=100)
According to Directive 1999/31/EC, aimed at safeguarding the environment and human health, the fraction of waste disposed of in landfills should be progressively reduced. Furthermore, the new EU directive 2018/850 on landfills (circular economy package), implemented by the Legislative Decree no. 121/2020, provides that by 2035 the disposal of municipal waste in landfills should not exceed 10%. In 2019, in Italy, municipal waste disposed of in landfills accounted for 20.1% of the total municipal waste. Separate collection amounted to 61.3% of the municipal waste; the share was up by 3.2 percentage points compared to 2018. Despite this rapid growth, the target of 65% had not been reached, even if the Legislative Decree n. 152/2006 had established that this target should have been achieved by 2012.
Anticipatory estimates indicated a decrease, more than tripled, in total greenhouse gas emissions (from -2.8% to -9.2%) between 2019 and 2020, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the consequent mobility restrictions and the slowdown in economic activities. Between 1990 and 2018, Italy recorded a total decrease in emissions equal to 17.2%: 80.5% of this total decrease was due to improvements in the energy sector, 8.1% in industrial processes and the remaining 7.1% in the agriculture sector. The waste sector, on the other hand, showed an increase in CO2 emissions, but these will probably decrease over the next years owing to improvements in efficiency in biogas capture and the reduction of biodegradable organic matter in landfills. In particular, during the same period the carbon dioxide emissions, the main greenhouse gas (81.4% of emissions), decreased by 20.5%. In 2018, economic activity and greenhouse gas emissions continued to decouple: GDP increased by 0.9% while greenhouse gas emissions fell by 0.9%.
However, air pollution continued to be one of the main environmental problems, especially in urban areas. In 2020, 36.1% of families perceived polluted air in the area where they lived, while almost a fifth of families reported the presence of unpleasant smells. Compared to 2019, in 2020 the quota of families perceiving polluted air decreased by 1.6 percentage points, while the percentage of families claiming the presence of unpleasant smells was stable.
In 2018, notwithstanding the 8.2 billion cubic meters introduced into the municipal water networks (371 litres per person per day), the total water supplied to end consumers was equal to 4.7 billion cubic meters (221 litres per person per day). Total water losses in public water supply were therefore equal to 42.0% of the volume of water introduced into the network (37.4% in 2012). Public water supply networks were managed by 2,088 water operators, which registered a drop compared to 2015 (-218), despite the continuing high fragmentation in the management of urban water services.
In 2019, there was a slight reduction in the number of bathing areas, in contrast to the growing trend observed in previous years. 88.4% of these areas showed an excellent quality status as they met the most stringent quality standards. 1.8% of these sites still showed a poor quality, not complying with the standards established by EU legislation.
REGIONS Italy and its regions
In 2019, three Regions showed the highest per capita annual production of municipal waste, namely Emilia-Romagna (663.5 kg per capita), Toscana (616.0 kg) and Valle d'Aosta/Vallée d'Aoste (604.9 kg). On the other hand, Calabria (403.1 kg per capita), Molise (368.2 kg) and Basilicata (354.8 kg) showed the lowest per capita production. In almost all the regions, municipal waste increased compared to 2018, with the exception of Molise, Marche, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen, Sicilia and Umbria, where slight reductions were recorded.
As regards the municipal waste management, the regional shares of landfill disposal is an interesting indicator. In 2019, the shares are lower in Campania, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen and in Lombardia, with percentages below 5%. The highest regional shares of landfill disposal are observed in Molise (90.0%), Sicilia (58.5%) and Marche (42.8%). However, data on regional waste management are influenced by extra-regional flows, since waste produced in one region can also be disposed of in other regions.
In 2019, the percentage of the separate collection of municipal waste increased in all the regions, except for the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen (-0.9 percentage points compared to 2018) which, however, exceeded the 65% target set by EU for 2012. Nine Regions exceeded the target (seven in 2018): Autonomous Province of Trento (77.5%), Veneto (74.7%), Sardegna (73.3%), Lombardia (72.0%), Emilia-Romagna (70.6%), Marche (70.3%), Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen (68.4%), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (67.2%) and Umbria (66.1). 43% of the national population lives in these regions.
The most significant increase in the percentage of separate waste collection was registered in the South (+4.5 percentage points compared to 2018) which therefore reduced the regional gap, still substantial, compared to the North. In particular, the least virtuous regions were Sicilia (38.5%), despite an increase of 9 percentage points compared to 2018, Calabria (47.9%) and Basilicata (49.4%). The highest increase in separate waste collection (12 percentage points) was recorded in Molise.
In 2017, in Italy per capita emissions were on average equal to 7.2 tonnes of CO2. Sardegna and Friuli-Venezia Giulia showed the highest values of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, 12 and 10 tonnes of CO2 per inhabitant respectively, while Campania showed the lowest (3.6 tonnes).
Among the geographical areas, the Northern area registered the most consistent emissions (North-East 8.2 and North-West 7.9 tonnes of equivalent CO2 per inhabitant), the values dropped in the South (6.7 tonnes) and in the Centre (6.3 tonnes), where the highest level is observed in Umbria (7.4 tonnes).
In the South and Islands, Campania (3.6 tonnes) and Abruzzo (5.5 tonnes) showed the lowest per capita emissions. Between 2015 and 2017, more than half of the regions showed an increasing trend, more marked in Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (+ 8.8%). However, compared to 1990, almost all the regions recorded a reduction, the highest registered in Liguria (-59.8%) and Veneto (-36.9%). Basilicata and Molise were the only two regions showing an increase in emissions compared to 1990 (with an increase of 67.3% and 62.5% respectively).
Families in the North-West, particularly those living in Lombardia, perceived more the presence of air pollution in the area where they lived (46.6%), while the problem of unpleasant smells was complained of mainly by families living in Campania (33.2%) and Lazio(25.4%).
In 2018, the supply of water for drinking use was heterogeneous on the Italian territory, the lowest regional value was registered in Puglia (152 litres per person per day), while the highest in Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (446 litres per person per day).
Among the geographical areas, the North-West recorded the largest volume of water (254 litres per inhabitant per day). More than one in two regions showed total water losses in distribution, exceeding the national value (42.0%). The most virtuous regions (losses equal to less than 30%) were Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (22.1%), Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen (26.9%) and Lombardia (29.8%). All the Northern regions, with the exception of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (45.7%), showed a level of water losses below the national one. In the Central-South area, on the other hand, with the exception of Marche (33.9%), all the regions showed water losses higher than the national figure. The highest values were recorded in Abruzzo (55.6%), Umbria (54.6%) and Lazio (53.1%).
In 2019, bathing areas were mainly located in the South and Islands (60.3% of the total sites). The highest percentage of excellent quality bathing water was registered in the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano/Bozen, Umbria (values equal to 100.0%), Sardegna (98.5%), Puglia (98, 4%) and Toscana (97.1%).
BATHING WATER OF EXCELLENT QUALITY-YEAR 2019 (PERCENTAGE VALUES )
EUROPE Italy within the European context
In 2018, the production of municipal waste in the EU was equal to 251.9 million tons (+ 0.1% compared to 2017). The overall municipal waste produced in the EU has not been estimated for 2019, nor has it for Bulgaria, Ireland or the United Kingdom.
However, compared to 2018, the collection increased in almost all the remaining countries, while it remained unchanged in the Netherlands and decreased in Estonia and Italy. With regard to per capita production, out of twenty-five member countries, Italy ranked 13th in the growing ranking (504 kg per capita).
In 2018, the amount of municipal waste disposed of in landfills decreased in the EU (-2.4% compared to 2017). In 2019, the most virtuous countries were Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark. Italy showed a value (105 kg per capita) well below the European average (160 kg), considering the twenty-five member countries for which the data is known.
By 2020, as required by Directive 2008/98/EC, all the member countries must achieve the 50% target for the reuse and recycling of municipal waste. In 2018, in the EU, the average recycling rate of municipal waste was equal to 46.8% (+0.2 percentage points compared to 2017). In 2019, thirteen out of twenty-five member countries reached rates above the average, including Italy (51.3%) which is one of the seven member countries exceeding the target for 2020.
The EU directive 2018/851 set new targets to be achieved for the reuse and recycling of municipal waste: 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035.
MUNICIPAL WASTE RECYCLING RATE. YEAR 2019 (PERCENTAGE OF MUNICIPAL WASTE RECYCLED ON THE TOTAL MUNICIPAL WASTE PRODUCED)
With regard to the greenhouse gas emissions, between 1990 and 2018, a general reduction (25.2%) was registered in EU. Moreover, the European Environment Agency's anticipatory estimates indicated a further 4% contraction for 2019. In detail, more than half of the EU countries complied with 2020 goals concerning the climate and energy package (second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol), which provides for cutting at least 20% of greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 levels by 2020. A quarter of the countries, including Italy, have almost reached the target, reaching a level above 17.2%; the remaining countries will have to implement further policies to achieve it. The best performances in terms of emissions reduction have been recorded in five Eastern European countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Estonia and Bulgaria, while the worst have been recorded in Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Austria.
In the new Green Deal strategy approved in December 2019, the goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (net-zero greenhouse gas emissions). For this reason the European Commission, in the amended EU climate law established in October 2020, proposed to all Member States, in the first instance, to bring the reduction of the 1990 emissions from the current 40% to at least 55%, reaching 60% in 2030. Over the period 2021-2027, 100 billion euros will be allocated to alleviate the socio-economic impact in the countries most affected by the transition.
In 2018, Italy was confirmed to be one of the EU countries supplying the highest volume of drinking water, 215 litres per person per day compared to the EU average of 166, climbing up to number four in the descending ranking. The maximum value of per capita drinking water supplied was recorded in Ireland (376 litres) and the minimum in Estonia (102 litres). The new European Directive 2020/2184 on the quality of water for human consumption requires all Member States to adopt, by 2023, some measures to ensure health protection by improving universal access to water. These measures should increase the European consumers’ confidence in using tap water as drinking water, which could contribute to reducing the use of bottled water, with further important environmental effects, such as the reduction of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the EU, there are 21,981 bathing areas, which are regularly monitored and meet the minimum quality requirements established by current legislation (Directive 2006/7/EC); 84.8% of these areas achieved an excellent quality status.
In 2019, the EU recorded a slight overall increase in bathing areas (0.7%) compared to the previous year. The number of bathing sites compared to 2018 (21,831 sites) increased by 150 (123 in Poland).
In 2018, Italy was confirmed to be one of the EU countries supplying the highest volume of drinking water, 215 litres per person per day compared to the EU average of 166, climbing up to number four in the descending ranking. The maximum value of per capita drinking water supplied was recorded in Ireland (376 litres) and the minimum in Estonia (102 litres). The new European Directive 2020/2184 on the quality of water for human consumption requires all Member States to adopt, by 2023, some measures to ensure health protection by improving universal access to water. These measures should increase the European consumers’ confidence in using tap water as drinking water, which could contribute to reducing the use of bottled water, with further important environmental effects, such as the reduction of plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the EU, there are 21,981 bathing areas, which are regularly monitored and meet the minimum quality requirements established by current legislation (Directive 2006/7/EC); 84.8% of these areas achieved an excellent quality status.
In 2019, the EU recorded a slight overall increase in bathing areas (0.7%) compared to the previous year. The number of bathing sites compared to 2018 (21,831 sites) increased by 150 (123 in Poland).
Italy, despite human intervention on coastal areas, showed the largest number of bathing areas among the EU countries (5,535 sites - 25.2% of the total bathing water in the EU); followed by France (3,348 sites), Germany (2,291) and Spain (2,234).
Italy ranked eighth (88.4%) among Member States registering percentage values above the European average of excellent quality bathing waters (84.8%). Italy showed the largest number of sites with excellent bathing conditions (4,894 sites), which represent 26.3% of the areas with this status in EU (18,640 overall sites). Italy is followed in the ranking by France (2,662 sites), Germany (2,120 sites), Spain (1,974 sites) and Greece (1,564 sites).
