Gioia Tauro, waste disposal company seized: 70 tons of organic waste sold as "compost." The owners have been charged.

GIOIA TAURO (RC) – A large-scale intervention by the Carabinieri led to the seizure of a waste disposal company in Seminara, in the Gioia Tauro plain, where approximately 70 tons of unfermented organic waste, passed off as compost and resold to local farmers.

Citizens' reports and the investigation

For weeks, numerous residents had reported nauseating smells, smoke and unbreathable air coming from the area, especially on windy days. The reports activated the Carabinieri of the Gioia Tauro Station who, with the technical-specialist support of the Ecological Operations Unit of Reggio Calabria, they identified the irregular site.

Incomplete compost resold to farmers

According to the investigations, the company owners had managed organic waste in a completely illicit manner: the materials were piled up in heaps without respecting the times and transformation processes required by law, to then be sold as natural fertilizer. In reality it was a product still in maturation stage, capable of generating foul-smelling and potentially toxic fumes, with risks to health and food safety.

Illicit burning and environmental risk

The military also confirmed episodes of illegal burning of accumulated organic waste: a practice that released harmful substances, polluting the soil and air, with serious consequences for the environment and the quality of surrounding crops.

Area seizure and urgent remediation

The entire company area was placed under seizureInside, piles of waste in various stages of decomposition and clear traces of fires were found. To contain the environmental damage, an extraordinary cleanup operation was necessary, conducted in conjunction with the Fire Brigade and lasting over seven consecutive days, until the site is completely secured.

The crimes charged and the ongoing investigations

The two owners, both reported at liberty, are accused of uncontrolled storage and illicit combustion of organic waste, as well as commercial fraud for the sale of fake compost. Investigators have started technical investigations for assess the environmental impact of the pipelines and rebuild the entire distribution chain of the material sold to farmers.

The incident once again highlights the urgent need to strengthen controls on waste disposal and the traceability of fertilizers destined for the agricultural sector, a crucial sector for the health of citizens and the Calabrian economy.