Naples – Separate waste collection of paper and cardboard continues to grow in Campania. According to the 30th Annual Report by Comieco, the National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose Packaging, in 2024 the region collected more than 237.000 tons, a 3% increase over 2023.
A quantity that, to give a concrete idea, would be enough to fill three-quarters of the Diego Armando Maradona stadium.
A positive result, although still far from its full potential. The per capita figure in Campania stands at 41,8 kg, well below the national average (65,4 kg) and even that of the South and the islands (50,2 kg).
"Campania will continue the positive trend it has seen for almost a decade in 2024," comments Carlo Montalbetti, general director of Comieco, "but growth is still limited compared to the region's real potential."
Below average interception and quality to be improved
Another critical indicator concerns the share of intercepted cellulose waste in total municipal waste, which in Campania remains less than 9%, compared to 14% in the best performing regions. According to Comieco estimates, an improvement on this front could lead to an annual increase of over 100.000 tons of paper and cardboard for recycling in the coming years.
But it's not just a question of quantity: the quality of the collected material is also a key issue. In many cases, household waste disposals do not meet the highest standards, with less than 3% of the extraneous fractions. This forces waste management facilities to perform more stringent sorting, with economic and environmental costs that limit the benefits for municipalities.
Napoli and Caserta lead the way, while Salerno wins.
In 2024, Comieco managed the recycling of approximately 185.000 tons of cellulose materials in Campania, equal to 78% of the total collected. The 462 participating municipalities received over €17 million in financial compensation.
All provinces show a positive trend. In particular:
Naples exceeded 134.000 tons, with a per capita average of over 45 kg;
Caserta recorded a 4% growth, reaching over 37.000 tons;
Salerno exceeded 43.000 tons, with 40,7 kg per inhabitant;
Avellino collected more than 13.000 tons, with an average of 34 kg/inhabitant;
Benevento exceeded 9.000 tons, with 35,6 kg per capita.
Salerno received special recognition for being selected as the 2024 "Capital of Paper and Cardboard Recycling" during Paper Week, the national week of recycling education and information promoted by Comieco.
It's interesting to see how Campania is improving paper and cardboard collection, but there are still issues to be resolved. The data shows that much work remains to be done to achieve better standards in both quality and quantity.