Livorno: the future of the waste-to-energy plant at the center of a debate between politics and sustainability.

The future of the plant waste-to-energy plant in Livorno was the focus of a question presented by opposition spokesman Marco Landi, to which the Environment Councillor responded.

Monia Monni reported that “at present and with reference to the ATO Costa, the Authority for the management of urban waste, is in the authorization phase for an oxy-combustion plant with a potential of 177.000 t/y of solid waste, which could offer an adequate response to the quantity of unsorted waste produced in the territory of the municipality of Livorno (currently approximately 30.000 t/y, but destined to be reduced to less than 25.000 t/y in relation to the progressive introduction of point-based pricing systems, already underway in the municipal territory)".

"The possible deferred closure of the Picchianti waste-to-energy plant – he continued -, while it must be noted that at present there are no formal communications of such early decommissioning by the competent Authority of the Tuscany Region, nor by the plant manager to the regional Waste Authorization Sector, it could only take into account, as is known, what is foreseen in the new Circular Economy Plan which has duly taken into account possible early decommissioning, providing for appropriate corrective provisions of a management nature, consistent with the objectives of the Plan and of the Community legislation, without therefore determining any problem of balance of the model".

"Compared to what is reported in the knowledge framework of the Regional Circular Economy Plan - he concluded the councillor - It should be noted that with reference to the 2023 data, there was a decrease of approximately 4 thousand tons of CSS sent to extra-regional plants, as well as a reduction of approximately 5 thousand tons of unsorted waste sent outside the region, also in consideration of the closure of the Gaggio Montano (BO) landfill. With reference to organic waste, it is useful to remember how Tuscany is fully filling its plant gap with the start-up of new plants dedicated to Montespertoli and Peccioli which will be able to carry out their activity in accordance with the general principle of proximity. Finally, with regard to the transfers for recovery of waste produced by regional TMBs to extra-regional plants, it should be remembered that these, in accordance with the national legislation in the sector, occur according to market logic, therefore assessable within the scope of the competences of the Area Authority, as holders of the service contract with the manager of the same.".

In the reply opposition spokesman Marco Landi stressed that "In the Chamber, Councillor Monni said that in 2023 the Livorno waste-to-energy plant treated 56 tonnes of waste, of which 461 were unsorted urban waste generated in the municipality of Livorno and 31 generated and collected in the territory of ATO Toscana Costa".

"About - he added - we are facing a situation that is mainly about timing. You told us that in 2027 we would have a very special plant available, unique in the world and the institutions have told us several times that the waste-to-energy plant in Livorno would close in 2027. In reality, it was also planned to spend 13 million for a revamping of the plant that was supposed to last three years. A study that cost 20 thousand euros explained that spending all this money was obviously uneconomical and we could have said this for free. You say that it is clear that there is no early decommissioning of the plant so to date we still do not know what will happen in this transitional phase. In the Waste Plan in the transitional phase it is said that these plants are essential for the disposal of that type of waste and a revamping is being made, an investment for the next 50 years of almost 20 million euros. "

"We share - he concluded Regional Councillor Landi - that there should not be a greater conferment in landfills compared to these flows that in reality today in Livorno do not go. But we are convinced that in 2027 we will never see the oxy-combustion of Peccioli. So either it is reactivated in a serious manner for a programmed period of time, as is being done in Montale, for about fifteen years for a suitable investment of ten, fifteen or twenty million and we talk seriously about this plant or we wait for the next election campaign to understand what the communication strategies should be with respect to the positioning that this region wants to have".