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Decentralized Community Composting: Past, Present and Future Aspects of Italy

Author

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  • Cecilia Bruni

    (Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Çağrı Akyol

    (Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Giulia Cipolletta

    (Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Anna Laura Eusebi

    (Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

  • Donatella Caniani

    (Engineering School, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Salvatore Masi

    (Engineering School, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Joan Colón

    (BETA Tech Center, Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya, C/de la Laura 13, 08500 Vic, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Francesco Fatone

    (Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning-SIMAU, Marche Polytechnic University, via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

Italy is among the top biowaste-generating countries in Europe, and has a well-structured waste management framework with quite a number of centralized composting facilities. In recent years, there has also been huge interest from local communities in decentralized composting. Although decentralized community composting is common in some countries, there is still a lack of information on the operative environment together with its potential logistical, environmental, economic, and social impacts. Considering the national Italian legislation on community composting as well as successfully implemented projects at EU level, Italy can set a model especially for Mediterranean countries that intend to build decentralized composting programs. Therefore, in the context of this review paper, a brief overview of the composting process was presented together with main applications in centralized and especially in decentralized composting, while the main focus was kept on the operative and legislative information gathered from Italian community composting. There is a huge difference in the number of composting plants between the regions, and the lack of centralized facilities in the central and southern regions can be supported by decentralized solutions. Decentralizing waste treatment facilities and thus creating local solutions to urban waste management strategies will help to achieve the resource recovery and valorization targets in line with the circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Bruni & Çağrı Akyol & Giulia Cipolletta & Anna Laura Eusebi & Donatella Caniani & Salvatore Masi & Joan Colón & Francesco Fatone, 2020. "Decentralized Community Composting: Past, Present and Future Aspects of Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3319-:d:347610
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Lorenzo Maria Cafiero & Margherita Canditelli & Fabio Musmeci & Giulia Sagnotti & Riccardo Tuffi, 2020. "Assessment of Disintegration of Compostable Bioplastic Bags by Management of Electromechanical and Static Home Composters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Ariel Gillespie & Anthony Halog, 2023. "Community-Scale Composting Initiatives in South-East Queensland and Beyond: a Review of Successes, Challenges and Lessons for a Pilot Project on Karragarra Island, southern Moreton Bay," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    6. Do, Quynh & Ramudhin, Amar & Colicchia, Claudia & Creazza, Alessandro & Li, Dong, 2021. "A systematic review of research on food loss and waste prevention and management for the circular economy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    7. Piotr Sulewski & Karolina Kais & Marlena Gołaś & Grzegorz Rawa & Klaudia Urbańska & Adam Wąs, 2021. "Home Bio-Waste Composting for the Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, September.
    8. Zhaojing Yu & Bin Wang & Xiaoya Jiang & Weimin Zeng & Runlan Yu & Xiaoyan Wu & Li Shen & Xueling Wu & Jiaokun Li & Yuandong Liu, 2023. "Behavior and Biochemical Mechanism of High Iron Attapulgite Dosages Affecting Sewage Sludge Composting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-13, August.

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