Sustainability is a duty, as Prime Minister Mario Draghi reiterated, and in view of the Pnrr investments in Italy it is already partly a reality, even if the bulk of the journey has yet to begin. Our country is already today among the European champions of circular economy and in particular plastic recycling: the topic is very hot and this summer the European Union approved a directive requiring member countries to adapt their regulations to achieve the objective of reducing the environmental impact of single-use plastics. These range from the ban on the marketing of disposable plastic items (cotton buds, straws, etc.) to the reduction in the consumption of disposable plastic products (beverage cups, caps, take-away packaging, etc.) up to the new separate collection target. for liquid food containers (with a capacity of up to 3 litres): 77% by 2025 to reach 90% by 2029.
Net of the fact that the plastic released into the sea from the European continent represents only 1% of the global one (the bulk of the problem is China) and that in Italy there is currently controversy over the opportunity to exempt the bioplastics, at what stage is the situation in our country? A photograph of the sector is able to take it is Assorimap (National Association of Recyclers and Regenerators of Plastic Materials), active since 1978 to represent
companies that recycle or regenerate post-consumer plastic materials, within the national consortia envisaged by the
law and in other public and private spheres. It is estimated that today the recycling companies that adhere to Assorimap by reintroducing waste, waste or leftovers of regenerated or recycled plastic materials into the production cycle, they treat about 90% of the entire quantity produced at national level.
Overall, the 300 companies involved have an installed recycling capacity of almost 2 million tons, making Italy the world leader in technology and plant engineering for recycling and the world leader in the quality of the secondary raw material (i.e. deriving from the reuse of plastic) produced. This means that the country is potentially able to increasingly decouple economic growth from the consumption of raw materials and some data help to understand this: for every ton of recycled plastic, compared to production with virgin raw materials, 1,9 tons of petrolium; 1,39 tons of CO2 emitted, 3.000 kWh of energy consumed, which represents approximately 1% of the national electricity requirement and the electricity required by a Region such as Basilicata.
Plastic recycling, again according to the data provided by Assorimap, is also an interesting economic opportunity. Today the employees in the companies represented are already almost 10.000, but it is estimated that by 2025 nearly 50.000 new jobs could be created directly into the European plastics recycling value chain, with over 75.000 additional indirect jobs supporting the sector and its operations. By 2030, employment could increase substantially by 80.000 direct jobs and 120.000 indirect jobs. All at low costs: in compliance with the EU objectives, the investments necessary for Italian companies are around 1 billion euros by 2025 and 1,45 billion euros by 2030, therefore amply coverable with the Pnrr.
“In recent days the Ministry for Ecological Transition – commented in this regard Walter Regis, president of Assorimap – published the decrees on the circular economy, based on the resources allocated in the Pnrr. This is a first step in the construction of increasingly sustainable industrial processes. The forecast of 1,5 billion euros for the construction of new waste management plants and the modernization of existing plants, together with the 600 million for the construction of flagship projects, constitute a lever for the development of the sector. Now the hope is that the notices are truly accessible to businesses, away from any bureaucratic length, on the basis of streamlined and simplified procedures. It will be a decisive factor for the involvement of businesses without access barriers, to mark a radical change of pace. The companies that operate in the plastic recycling mechanism are at the heart of the circular economy and therefore ask that the ground be created so that they can grow in the interest of the country".
