Photo Sebastiano Sacco, via Dario Salvelli's blog- 9 January 2008

We published a post on the 'trash crisis' in Naples, Italy, Saturday. The problem is far from over and the Neapolitans continue to confront the police force. Images of these riots have been circulating across the world, but there’s a lack of information on the context and the twists in this particularly complicated, internecine crisis. Why is Naples unable to manage its garbage disposal like other European cities? Our observer, Alessia Storia, worked for a public sector waste management company. She details the responsibilities of the local authorities and the might of the Camorra, the dreaded Sicilian mafia, in this crisis. Read more...

As the days crawl by, Neapolitans watch the rubbish pile up outside their doors. . Two thousand tonnes of refuse now fills the city's streets. Firemen have been on high alert since New Year's Day when residents started setting fire to the waste. Our Observers in the town describe the situation, and condemn the mafia's role in the situation. Read more...