Reggio Calabria: abandoned hospital waste, the mayor orders removal, disposal and restoration of the places

The crimes are prescribed, but the municipal administration, through a specific union ordinance, orders the defendants to removal, transport and disposal of waste within 60 days.

This is the decision taken by the Mayor of Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Falcomata, who, with union ordinance no. 32 of 2 April 2024 ordered the removal and disposal of abandoned waste and the restoration of places in the underpass connecting the market area of ​​Mortara and the industrial area of ​​San Gregorio, in the Municipality of Reggio Calabria.

The story originates from an investigation carried out by the local police of Reggio Calabria, which, with a preventive seizure report dated 25 October 2018, ascertained, in the area in question, the presence of special and dangerous waste as well as the illicit burning of waste by unknown persons. During the operations, among other things, plastic bags containing waste, including healthcare/hospital waste (sheets, gauze, drainage tubes, etc.), were found. The investigations led to tracing this abandonment to three companies identified by the public prosecutor.

With a sentence issued on January 11th, the Court of Reggio Calabria declared the statute of limitations for the contravention crime charged against the defendants. However, since the judge did not pronounce an acquittal sentence on the merits, by virtue of the provisions of Legislative Decree 152/2006 (which has an autonomous existence with respect to criminal proceedings), the burden of removing the waste found and restoring the state of the places remains with the parties involved.

In light of this, the mayor of Reggio Calabria issued a union order with which four people, in their capacity as legal representatives and/or partners of the companies involved, were ordered to take care of what is indicated above at their own expense within the period of 60 days from notification of the order. In case of non-compliance, the municipal administration will proceed directly, except for the recovery of the sums advanced from the obliged parties and consequent reporting to the judicial authority in accordance with the provisions, in these cases, of the Environmental Code.