After 20 months (since autumn 2020) of continuous decline in the number of waste fires in the provinces of Napoli and Caserta compared to the historical trend, the months of June and July of this year mark a slowdown in the positive trend: in June 2022 there were 140 fires against the 158 of the same month of 2021, and during the month of July just passed 194 waste fires against the 204 of July 2021.
These are the data from the monthly report released by the Officer in Charge of Fighting Waste Fires. These are still decreasing numbers, but now very close to the data from previous years; among the causes, in addition to the climate, there is an increase in pressure on the waste collection, delivery and disposal system, already structurally in difficulty.
An example of this is the further increase in fires in the coastal municipalities (Mondragone, Castel Volturno, and Giugliano in Campania), where 15 were recorded in June and 52 in July, compared to the “0” of the winter months. The seasonality of the phenomenon appears to be confirmed, in strong connection with the number of residents (the number of fires in urban areas where there are structural deficiencies in the collection system is directly proportional to the number of residents).
Fires in Roma camps accounted for 7% of the total, a slight decrease compared to June; however, it should be noted that these are often fires of significant size and great visibility, such as to cause strong social alarm. Abandonments continue to increase, in the face of a lower number of fires, confirming the data according to which even where preventive and repressive action decreases or keeps the number of fires constant, the quantity of waste abandoned in the territory does not decrease.
"As for enforcement activities, since last May a new model of "surprise" checks on the territory has been adopted, always focused on the activities of illegal transport and waste dumping, obviously without neglecting commercial, industrial, artisanal and agricultural activities and production chains. In addition to the excellent results obtained in the control and seizure of vehicles and in the control of people, the very significant increase in sanctions is highlighted once again, more than tenfold from one year to the next, evidence of an activity of enforcement and prevention that is becoming increasingly incisive", the report underlines.
Article published on 6 August 2022 - 20:10
