05/01/2008 / ITALY
The situation is very bad now. There are loads of rubbish heaps in the streets. People are setting them on fire which creates clouds of carbon dioxide and toxic gases. It’s because of the illegal trafficking of the Mafia, the Camorra, who control waste management in the town, that this has happened. Italy should have built two incinerators and seven plants for the production of fuel derived from waste, but this was never done because Camorra has interests in public procurement and for controlling waste disposal. Disposing a tonne of waste in Italy costs 290 €, whereas in Germany it’s 215 €. Why do we spend more in Italy than in Germany? I think Camorra might be able to answer that question. »
The roads have been full of rubbish since the summer. Then the situation got even worse. Taking advantage of fireworks bought for New Year’s Eve, people started setting the rubbish piles on fire. The number of emergencies was enormous. About a hundred fires were started within 12 hours, and the firemen couldn’t cover them because of a lack of staff. They were working around the clock. On Wednesday morning, people blocked a railway station using the rubbish itself. They’ve also blocked several roads."
Naples collapses under heaps of rubbish
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.
"It's because of the Mafia"
Avellino. Video posted 29 December 2007
Ciro Barbato reviews the role played by the mafia in the refuse ‘crisis’.
The situation is very bad now. There are loads of rubbish heaps in the streets. People are setting them on fire which creates clouds of carbon dioxide and toxic gases. It’s because of the illegal trafficking of the Mafia, the Camorra, who control waste management in the town, that this has happened. Italy should have built two incinerators and seven plants for the production of fuel derived from waste, but this was never done because Camorra has interests in public procurement and for controlling waste disposal. Disposing a tonne of waste in Italy costs 290 €, whereas in Germany it’s 215 €. Why do we spend more in Italy than in Germany? I think Camorra might be able to answer that question. »"The situation got even worse"
Gianfranco Reppucci, who filmed this video on 1 January, described the situation in the streets.
The roads have been full of rubbish since the summer. Then the situation got even worse. Taking advantage of fireworks bought for New Year’s Eve, people started setting the rubbish piles on fire. The number of emergencies was enormous. About a hundred fires were started within 12 hours, and the firemen couldn’t cover them because of a lack of staff. They were working around the clock. On Wednesday morning, people blocked a railway station using the rubbish itself. They’ve also blocked several roads."The mountains of rubbish in question
©Marco del Sorbo (published 27 December)
Waste disposal units engulfed in flames
Video posted 23 December 2007
- Italy
- Freelance Writer, Internet and new media consultant. Electronic Engineering student in ICT sector
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Nice Topic
Submitted by male models (not verified) on Tue, 19/08/2008 - 18:38.Naples is an ancient city.But felt bad that it gets polluted much. steps should be taken to check it.
Unregistered user
It is sad to see
Submitted by Walk In Tubs (not verified) on Sun, 10/08/2008 - 04:36.It is sad to see Italy turning in to a dump. Hope they find a way keep their otherwise beautiful country clean.
Unregistered user
Very unfortunate
Submitted by acne treatment (not verified) on Sun, 06/07/2008 - 03:27.This is very unfortunate, it is a very beautiful city. My hopes go out to families who live in the area and have innocent people involved in this.
Unregistered user
Hard to Believe
Submitted by Hot Tubs (not verified) on Mon, 02/06/2008 - 07:34.Wow, that is difficult to believe, it looks a lot like what I seen in inner Mexico.
Unregistered user
situation is not so bad
Submitted by gino (not verified) on Sun, 23/03/2008 - 19:01.La situazione è grave solo in alcune zone di napoli, molti comuni hanno le proprie discariche dove riversare la spazzatura senza lasciarla per le strade.
Unregistered user
The mafia is nothing but the political class
Submitted by Livia (not verified) on Sun, 06/01/2008 - 19:02.Dear friends, I am a blogger and new media reporter who lives in Napoli. The problem is that the mafia people are the politicians themselves.
The companies that manage the collecting of trash are owned by people who are bound to the local politicians because they are either their relatives or their friends.
This is a matter of fact and the true rubbish of my region is the political class that governs it. The same people have been governing for more than 10 years and they obtained their votes with violence and illegal actions. And now we see the result.
The money sent by the European Commission to help us solve the problem have disappeared and we don't know what the politicians have done with it.
The Italian government is even worse than our local politicians: just imagine that the minister of Justice, Mr Clemente Mastella, is a well known mafia person.
It's a shame!
Unregistered user
What are the authorities doing?
Submitted by Gil (not verified) on Sat, 05/01/2008 - 20:16.Everybody seems to know that the mafia owns the garbage business. And everbody agrees that they make people pay to much for a bad service. So what are the authorities doing? What about nationalizing the Garbage business?
Unregistered user
Do you think it's only an
Submitted by Rani (not verified) on Sun, 06/01/2008 - 13:12.Do you think it's only an Italian problem? The mafia owns business everyhere, from India to the US (remember Tony in "the Sopranos"?). And everybody knows that, including local authorities. But I guess officials are affraid. Or they benefit from this business.
Unregistered user