€200,000 to raise awareness about recycling compostable bioplastics

Milan, 3 May 2023 – A manual for shopkeepers, personalised communications initiatives, a podcast, talks in primary and secondary schools, video tutorials, information in seven different languages to reach people with limited Italian language skills, ad hoc campaigns for outdoor markets, awareness-raising campaigns for tourist areas and booklets in which children can note down good practices in class and at home. A wide range of ideas with the same objective: create information initiatives to help raise awareness about the characteristics of compostable bioplastics and the correct way to dispose of them together with organic waste.

In all there are 15 projects from different regions of Italy (eight from the north, four from the centre and three from the south) which won the “2023 Local Communications Competition” organised by BIOREPACK and ANCI (Association of Italian Municipalities).

“We were struck by how many applications we received (39) and by the quality of the projects developed by those who entered our first competition. This made it particularly hard to select the best proposals,” said Marco Versari, president of the BIOREPACK Consortium. “It’s a tangible sign of the vitality, professionalism and operating capacity of local authorities.”

The 15 winning projects, which were ranked based on a technical score and a qualitative assessment, will each receive a share of the €200,000 fund established in the competition notice. The region with the highest number of winning entries was Piedmont, thanks to a partnership involving three bodies (Sia Srl, Acsel Spa e SCS Spa), serving 132 municipalities and almost 284,000 inhabitants, across an area that ranges from the Susa and Lanzo valleys to the area of Ivrea. Another proposal from Piedmont came from STR, the waste treatment company of the municipality of Bra. The Veneto region came in second place with three projects, followed by Campania with two.

“The great interest shown in the competition by local authorities and waste collection operators demonstrates the urgent need for funds to develop public information campaigns,” said Versari. “Correct collection of organic waste is an essential element in creating a virtuous waste cycle. And in turn, compostable bioplastics are an extremely useful tool for increasing the quantity and quality of OFMSW collected. If we explain this clearly we can eliminate disinformation and fake news.”

The full list of winning projects is available HERE
 All projects must be implemented and completed by 31 December 2023.