No more throwing out bottles and aluminium containers! These items now make for energy savings and waste volume reduction. This is the ‘recipe’ for deposit schemes for empties, which many other countries have never abandoned − and plans are being made for a comeback in Italy, too.
Actually, a bill was passed at the Lower House in December 2009, and reached the Senate this month. This is an important step ahead for an eco-sustainable future, which will contribute to reducing the vast quantities of waste produced in Italy every day.
The strategic project, which goes by the name of Vetro indietro (glass back), is being promoted by Italgrob (Italian beverages distribution trade association), Fipe-Confcommercio (Italian Federation of Bars and Catering-Italian General Confederation of Enterprises, Professional Occupations and Self-employment), Legambiente (League for the Environment) and the leading producers of beverages. The benefits will be both environmental and economic (reduced MSW collection fee and VAT).
A quick look at what goes on abroad − twelve American States run deposit schemes for empties, with reductions of waste tins/cans, cardboard and glass of up to 70%. In Germany and the Scandinavian countries, deposit schemes for empties have been ongoing and have not undergone changes for years.
Deposit schemes may return to Italy, accompanied by the launching of packaging reclamation chains, modern deposit systems and, above all, incentives for all taking part (in the form of reduced taxation of MSW collection fees and deferred VAT payments).
In Italy, the volumes of municipal waste grow year by year. As provided for in the new European directive, by 2013, Italy will have to set up a national waste prevention programme (Programma nazionale di prevenzione rifiuti) whose task will be to foster the spread of good practices, locally, and, above all, structural actions on a national level. Bringing back deposits on empties is a step in the right direction, because handing back an intact bottle brings with it five-fold energy savings compared to melting scrap glass − one container can be used even more than fifty times over!
Source: newsfood.com
