Rising Raw Materials and Energy Costs: Alarm in the Waste Management Sector

The Associations of Italian companies operating in the environmental services sector and the circular economy have written to Prime Minister Mario Draghi requesting urgent measures to address the price increases that are making waste collection and management activities no longer sustainable.

Rising energy costs and raw material price increases are significantly impacting companies in the waste management sector, which now find themselves in situations at the limit of economic sustainability. Without urgent measures from the Government, in the coming weeks some waste collection and treatment services could be at risk.

This is the alarm contained in the letter sent by Alleanza Cooperative Italiane Servizi (Agci Servizi, Confcooperative Lavoro e Servizi, Legacoop Produzione e Servizi), Assoambiente, Confindustria Cisambiente and Utilitalia to Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Ministers Daniele Franco (Economy and Finance), Roberto Cingolani (Ecological Transition), Giancarlo Giorgetti (Economic Development) and ARERA President Stefano Besseghini.

The Associations representing companies operating in the environmental services and circular economy sector have expressed their alarm and deep concern about the evolution of the international political and economic landscape and the effects that the upward spiral
of raw material and energy costs is also having on companies in the sector.

A situation at the limit of sustainability for companies required to honor commitments previously undertaken in public and private contracts governing the sector, with the risk that the continuation of management activities may be compromised not only in collection (where fuel can account for up to 15% of costs), but in all phases of the integrated cycle.

The companies in the sector have, finally, called for decisive Government intervention to protect this sector as well.