The mayor's announcement Roberto Gualtierendowing Rome with a waste-to-energy plant is perhaps the strongest political initiative since he was elected in October 2021. A surprise statement for a technologically advanced plant that will be able to burn 600 tons of waste a year. A structure destined to become the pillar of the capital's new waste plan. And with three main purposes: to exploit all the energy produced, to mark the end of the current mechanical treatment system of Rocca Cencia, to save the Municipality 30/40 million euros a year. “ By equipping itself with a modern waste-to-energy plant, Rome would spend less than the approximately 150 million euros a year to transport and dispose of waste” he says Head grain President Assoambiente. Surprised by the news, Gualtieri explained to the politician that he had carried out a careful and in-depth evaluation of the available technologies. "In the end - he said - we decided to equip ourselves with a new plant for the energy valorisation of waste that produces heat and energy". In short, the capital of Italy cannot continue to rely on landfills and suffer from atmospheric pollution. Indeed, the ongoing project will do away with less than 90% of the current landfill requirement.
Rome waste: the new waste-to-energy plant
Where will it arise? The area identified by the technicians is that of Santa Palomba, which has already been the subject of other waste treatment assessments. The overthrow of the current waste system should, however, end in 2025. A non-random date coinciding with the Jubilee of which Mayor Gualtieri is Extraordinary Commissioner. From this point of view, the double role can be decisive both for the timing and for the costs estimated to date at 6-700 million euros. Net - mind you - of bureaucracy, obstacles and rising prices of raw materials. The optimization of the project, however, also needs a good understanding with the government and the Lazio Region, for which it is known that the extraordinary procedures will start quickly. Will Rome reach “zero landfill” as Europe asks? There are very advanced technologies on the market and with respect to the amount of waste that can be treated, the waste-to-energy plant should reduce waste emissions by at least 44%, but then it should increase separate collection to 65%. The steady state system, at this point, would produce electricity for 150 thousand families and gas for 60 thousand.
Rome waste: why the waste-to-energy plant is essential
Ultimately we are moving towards a virtuous model of circular economy with technologies and constant monitoring of the waste-to-energy plant capable of reassuring anyone who fears polluting emissions. In our opinion "only in this way will it be possible to get out of the constant emergency in Rome, Assoambiente replies".
The city produces every year 1,7 million tons of municipal waste, squeezed by continuous emergencies and expenses without any return. The European recycling target is 65%, with the remaining 35% to be used to recover energy and leave landfills. There are 492 waste energy recovery plants in Europe, many of which serve the major European capitals. Each year they handle about 100 million tons of waste. Rome's delay in tackling the subject pays tribute to an idea of renewing essential services on which "the best public and private skills could converge", adds Testa. And why not also imagine urban planning, architectural and design solutions suited to the specificity of Rome that improve it even in such a fragile sector? The announcement was made and the project must be followed. There is only the fear of preconceived positions which deny the right of the Romans to have a clean and less polluted city.
Waste-to-energy plant in Rome: Acerra's revenge
To understand the harmful effects of similar positions it would be enough to recall the story of the waste-to-energy plant in Acerra (Naples). Managed by A2A, after a political-judicial ordeal it has become a model of controlled waste combustion every year avoids the emission of 35.000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in an environmentally compromised area due to incomprehensible decisions. Nonetheless, the plant feeds into the national electricity grid 576 gigawatt hours of electricity equivalent to the consumption of over 200 domestic users. There are no complaints about inconsistencies between waste produced and treated to the point that a year ago the Tar rejected an appeal by environmentalists against the expansion of the storage tanks for more processing. The history of Acerra, in short, is full of ideas hostile to the good use of technology. We wish Rome a different destiny.
