Naples, separate waste collection exceeds 45%: Asia aims for a further increase by the end of the year.

Separate waste collection in Naples has exceeded 45%, and Asìa is preparing a new phase in relaunching its urban waste management service. This is what emerged during the meeting of the City Council's Environment and Sea Commission, chaired by Carlo Migliaccio, which was dedicated to discussions with the company's top management, the new management structure, and future plans.

During the meeting, the progress of the separate waste collection plan was illustrated: the city has reached over 45%, with an average annual increase of about three percentage points over the past two years. The increase recorded so far is expected to reach another point in 2026, a slowdown also attributed to the national challenges of plastic disposal.

Asìa's goal, however, remains more ambitious: to achieve an overall increase of 2,5 percentage points by the end of the year, through increased street waste collection, improved door-to-door collection, and the arrival of new vehicles, for which tenders are scheduled for September and October.

The meeting also addressed the critical issues related to plastic disposal at treatment plants, a problem affecting several Italian regions and impacting the organization of services. Company executives explained that measures are underway to gradually restore the situation to normal.

Regarding urban cleaning, Technical and Operations Director Paolo Stanganelli explained that Asìa carries out approximately 45 cleaning operations per day in the areas surrounding the recycling bins, in addition to hundreds of cleaning activities at the drop-off points. Further expansion of the service is planned starting in September.

New CEO Ciro Accetta announced the preparation of a business plan by September, aiming to make the company more autonomous, efficient, and transparent. "The ambition is to go beyond simple street cleaning services," Accetta explained, noting future prospects include leveraging the company's assets and developing more specialized services.

Great attention is also paid to staffing. Asìa currently employs 2.240 people, 94% of whom are employed in operational activities. In recent years, the average age has dropped from 62,8 to 50,7, while staff turnover has reached 62%. In the three-year period from 2022 to 2025, 1.058 workers were hired, more than double the 500 initially envisaged in the call for applications.

The company now aims to ensure turnover through 2027, evaluating the progression of the remaining rankings and taking into account the economic situation. Among the roles considered strategic are waste collectors, drivers, maintenance workers, and environmental inspectors.

During the committee debate, some councilors called for greater attention to staff distribution across the city's various districts and for rapid implementation of the objectives into concrete results for citizens. Environment Councilor Vincenzo Santagada emphasized the progress made and the need to continue on two fronts: the company's industrial future and an immediate response to daily critical issues, including through a rapid response task force.

Commission President Migliaccio concluded by announcing further investigations into strengthening the organization, the distribution of vehicles and personnel, and the evolution of the city's waste collection service.