Which laws regulate plastic recycling in Italy

10 Sep 2024world of plastics

The laws regulating plastic recycling in our country are the 1997 Ronchi Decree, the 2006 Environmental Code and its 2020 update.

In Italy, waste recycling is mainly regulated by the following laws:

Legislative Decree 22/97 (‘Decreto Ronchi’)
Legislative Decree 152/2006 (‘Environmental Code’)
Legislative Decree 116/2020 (‘New Environmental Code’)

Let us see in detail what the main aspects of these regulations are regarding the recycling of plastics. Their reuse, in fact, is linked not only to the composition and technical characteristics of the material, but also to precise legislative boundaries.

>> Read which plastics can be recycled

The Ronchi Decree and the plastic packaging recycling consortia

Legislative Decree 22/97 (‘Ronchi Decree’) gave birth to the sectoral consortia that regulate the recycling sector in Italy. Through its 7 consortia, CONAI manages the recycling and reuse of plastic, bioplastic, paper, aluminum, glass, wood and steel packaging.

The financing of the consortium system is based on the principle of ‘extended responsibility’. Producers, importers and first users of materials that become recyclable waste on Italian soil are therefore required to pay the CAC contribution (Contributo Ambientale CONAI).

To date, in fact, only what can be defined as packaging follows a recycling and reuse process. As far as plastic is concerned, packaging accounts for more than 50 per cent of plastic waste. In fact, not only bottles and bottles are considered as packaging, but also boxes, bags, films and, as of 2018, plastic plates and glasses that have long been excluded from separate collection.

However, many plastic products that could technically be recycled but are not recycled because they do not fall under the definition of ‘packaging’ are still left out of the system.

>> Read more about the consortia system

Plastic recycling in the Italian Environmental Code

In Italy, the Environmental Code (Legislative Decree 152/2006) was in force until 2020. Its fundamental principles are still valid today and are reported in the New Environmental Code launched the same year. Regarding waste management, the law promotes in the first instance the prevention of waste production, reuse and recycling, while it indicates landfilling as the last possible option.

On 30 May 2018, the European Union approved three directives concerning waste management with a view to reducing carbon emissions:

2018/850/EU (landfilling)
2018/851/EU (waste treatment)
2018/852/EU (packaging)

On the specific subject of plastics, the targets set by the EU for all Member States aim to achieve recycling of at least:

65% of packaging (by 2025)
70% of packaging (by 2030)

The directives have been implemented by Italy through the New Environmental Code (Legislative Decree 116/2020). This, however, lowered the European targets in terms of plastic packaging recycling, setting them at:

50% by 2025
55% by 2030

However, the Italian law set further measures and recommendations for companies and businesses regarding the use of plastics, including:

Tax breaks for those who buy recycled plastic products
Incentives for buying biodegradable plastic packaging
Invitation to limit the use of single-use plastic products
Call for separate collection systems

Tags: recycledplastic, regulatory, worldofplastics