It's easier to burn plastics than to recycle them.

Italy has faced a surge in fires linked to plastic recycling facilities over the past year, with 27 incidents recorded between June 1, 2026, and July 31, 2026, according to reports. These fires have occurred across multiple regions including Tuscany, Sicily, Veneto, Lombardy, Campania, Puglia, Piedmont, Sardinia, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Some of these fires, such as one at the Termoplast facility in Sarno, appear to be deliberately set. The issue has drawn attention from environmental groups and industry associations, who argue that the current system of managing plastic waste is unsustainable and dangerous. The Association of Plastic Recycling Industries (Assorimap) raised concerns with the Ministry of Environment back in October 2025 regarding the growing problem of fires at recycling plants. Despite this warning, the government’s response has been limited to granting permission for increased storage capacity at these facilities. This situation is not new, as investigations dating back to 2017 revealed that up to 20 percent of fires were intentional, often occurring during weekends when operations typically halt. A key factor contributing to the crisis is the influx of virgin plastics, derived from oil, at significantly lower prices compared to recycled plastics. This has rendered the market for recycled plastics nearly nonexistent. As a result, low-quality mixed plastics known as "plamix" have no viable commercial outlet and are instead stockpiled on industrial sites. These accumulations pose serious health risks due to potential fires that release heavy metals, dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into the environment. Corepla, the consortium responsible for collecting differentiated plastic packaging waste, has issued warnings about the dangers facing communities near these facilities. However, the organization previously maintained that Italy was a global leader in plastic recycling and did not require additional measures such as a "plastic tax." Now, however, the reality has forced a reassessment of this stance. Experts emphasize that reducing the overall volume of plastic used in packaging must become the primary focus. Current efforts aimed at building new incinerators or chemical recycling plants, which involve gasification processes to produce methanol from contaminated syngas, are unlikely to address the root cause of the problem. Incinerator operators themselves avoid using plasmix or secondary solid fuel in their facilities because of its higher calorific value, which would reduce their profitability by approximately half. Data supports the argument that Italy uses far more plastic packaging than other European countries. According to the latest available EU statistics from 2023, Italians consumed 44 kilograms of packaging plastic per person annually, compared to an average of 35 kilograms across the EU. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for policy changes to curb excessive plastic usage. New regulations set to take effect starting August 12 will aim to reduce the production of packaging waste by restricting single-use and portion-sized packaging. From February 12, 2027, consumers will be able to purchase goods using containers brought from home. A deposit return scheme (DRS) will also be implemented, offering financial incentives for returning PET bottles and aluminum cans. This system, already successfully applied in 17 countries including Malta, has proven effective in reducing littering during large events and along roadsides. The introduction of specialized machines designed to collect returned packaging promises improved product quality and greater compensation for local authorities and citizens through collection chains managed by entities like Coripet and Corepla. These developments align with broader goals outlined in the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which aims to create a circular economy by minimizing waste generation and promoting sustainable consumption patterns.