Circular Economy for biowaste in Italy

Italy is one of the EU countries leading the separate

collection of MSW: in 2024, a quota of 67,7%

(including biowaste, packaging waste, WEEs and others)

of all MSW was separately collected and recycled.

Biowaste accounts for 37,8% of sources segregated waste.

More than 53 million inhabitants are involved

in intensive collection schemes for biowaste

(foodwaste + greenwaste) diverting about 7,7 Mtons

of biowaste from disposal to recycling.

Hence over the last 35 years, an industrial sector

for biowaste recycling has developed and consolidated in Italy.

In 2024, there were 344 composting

or Anaerobic Digestion & Composting facilities,

that have treated 9,3 Mt of organic based waste.

CIC estimateabout 2.000 workers directly

employed in biowaste sector and 10.000

employees in the other activities related to th

e biowaste recycling (i.e. collection, technical support

for planning and building plants, activities to promote

the use of compost), with high growth prospects in the future.

COMPOSTING

MATERIAL RECOVERY

WASTE TREATED IN 2024

3,5 Mtons/year

WASTE TREATED IN 2024

more than 5,8 Mtons