Naples, the big flop of separate waste collection: 'The bin says goodbye to you, and the garbage remains on the ground'

"There are those who, these days, are boasting and declaring themselves satisfied with the extension, starting July 1st, of door-to-door waste sorting in Naples, particularly in the Vomero neighborhood, to an area between Corso Europa, Via Cilea, Via Gemito, and adjacent streets," begins Gennaro Capodanno, president of the Comitato Valori Colliri. "This is all just on paper. In fact, just take a look around at the smelly piles of garbage that appear daily near the recycling bins, in areas where this door-to-door collection has been taking place for some time, to understand that waste sorting in the city's hilly area, and not only there, is one of the biggest flops of recent years."
"Once the bins have been eliminated," Capodanno emphasizes, "many residents have only one option left: to abandon their garbage in the middle of the street, even in broad daylight, possibly leaning against the recycling bins, thus trying to attract less attention. Some merchants add their share, leaving packaging on the street, at any time and on any day, in defiance of the specific municipal ordinance that regulates such collection."
"In fact," Capodanno criticizes, "as long as we are forced to witness situations like those that occur, now with almost daily frequency, in Via Scarlatti or Piazza Vanvitelli or Piazza degli Artisti, with piles of rubbish, leaning against the recycling bins, with waste of all kinds, including packaging, wooden crates and bulky items, we can only speak of the total failure of separate waste collection, compared to the results it was intended to achieve."
"The further aggravating factor," Capodanno points out, "is that numerous tourists, who are also currently visiting the Vomero hills, pass through the areas where these unacceptable and dangerous situations occur, due to the resulting health and hygiene problems. They are often seen photographing the piles of garbage, as if they were souvenirs, but these certainly do not constitute an incentive for foreigners to come and visit the many beauties of the Neapolitan capital."
"The numerous reports made to resolve the problem have been of no avail to date," Capodanno continues. "This is a situation that has been present for some time and, given the ongoing lack of appropriate and effective measures, risks recurring in the future. This is yet another clear example, adding to many others highlighted in recent days in other areas, of the lack of separate waste collection in the hilly area of ​​the city."
"We'd also like to take this opportunity to learn what happened to the much-touted waste management officers of the past who had to hand out hefty fines to those who dumped waste, including packaging, outside of permitted hours," Capodanno points out. "The only ones who might rejoice over this state of affairs are the rats, who, attracted by the foul odors, notoriously feed on the garbage dumped on the streets, and also proliferate. In this regard, following reports of rats and cockroaches, it is hoped that the relevant authorities will quickly develop a robust and effective program of rodent control and disinfestation initiatives."
Regarding the absurd and unacceptable situation of hygienic-sanitary degradation that is being determined by the presence of piles of waste abandoned on the street, but also by the numerous reports of the presence of rats and cockroaches, Capodanno hopes that the appropriate initiatives will be promoted, providing, at the same time, immediately and systematically to eliminate all the inconveniences complained of, to safeguard and protect the health of citizens.