Italy‘‘s environment minister, Altero Matteoli, has said that Italy has made steps forward in the recycling of waste but they are not still sufficient to reach the targets fixed by the law.

Matteoli stressed that last year 6.4 million tons of rubbish were recycled compared to 5.7 million in 2002 (up 2.3 per cent). Speaking about the urban waste disposal the minister said that landfilling had fallen from 74.4 to 53.5 per cent. The minister say that Italy is achieving the European average.

According to Matteoli a first good result will be achieved when Decree 36/2003 will come into force. Decree 36/2003 will enforce in Italy the EU legislation on biodegradable waste with high calorific power. The minister also said that still a small quantity of rubbish is sent to incinerators if comparing Italian figures to other EU countries. In Italy 9.3 per cent of rubbish is sent to incinerators with energy recovery - compared to 18 per cent of the European average in 2001.

As regards incinerators and heath the minister said that they were the solution to solve the problem of waste disposal. "These plants allow us to save commodities and to solve ecological emergencies". Emissions in the atmosphere are innocuous notwithstanding the protests of the inhabitants of the areas where these plants are built, the minister said.

The minister also stressed the gap between northern and southern Italy in recycling waste. The minister said that it was necessary to work on this gap to find the necessary solutions. The minister also stressed that Italy produces less waste than the other European countries: 524 kg per inhabitants in 2003 in Italy, compared to 560 kg produced by an average EU citizen.

The minister also spoke about the passing of the fast track environment legislation that will reorganise this sector. The law and the recycling of waste are among government‘‘s goals, Matteoli concluded