Rubbish Talk: A Deep Dive into Urban Waste Management in Italy
Ah, the glamorous world of waste management! I mean, who wouldn’t want to dive headfirst into a topic as smelly—sorry, I mean, trendy as urban waste? Well, buckle up folks, because Italy has some fascinating figures that could make even the trashiest of us sit up and take note! In 2022, Italy produced just under 30 million tonnes of urban waste. That’s down from 2021, proving that Italians are not just masters of aesthetics but also masters of disposal.
The Waste Wave: What’s Going On?
In an era where urban waste production in Europe is rolling in at a staggering 230 million tonnes a year, Italy seems to be on a bit of a rollercoaster ride with its waste. Apparently, regulations are keeping our beloved pizza boxes out of landfills; a decreasing trend directly linked to a contraction in consumption. Result? More pasta, less rubbish!
According to a recent document by Inail—yes, I know, it’s not a fashion brand but rather an organization that focuses on health and safety for workers—the situation is both enlightening and worrying. The document entitled “Health and Safety for Waste Collection and Urban Hygiene Operators” illustrates the precarious balance of keeping our streets clean while ensuring that those who do it don’t get trampled by rogue pizza boxes!
The Unseen Risks of Urban Hygiene
So, what’s the real deal when it comes to the risks involved in this not-so-glamorous profession? The report highlights that despite a 6.4% decrease in accidents from 2013 to 2017, the urban hygiene sector is still a bit of a dangerous game. The accident frequency index for your friendly neighborhood waste collector stands at a staggering 62.93 injuries per 1,000 employees per year. To put that into perspective, that’s more than three times the accidents in the typical industry or service job. Talk about a rubbish job with increasing odds!
And who is most likely to face these “glamorous” challenges? Well, it seems that our urban hygiene heroes are predominantly Italian men aged 50-64, who now have to juggle garbage and pick up dislocated shoulders at the same time. It’s not just about managing rubbish; they also have to manage their own bodies after facing slip-and-fall hazards caused by those pesky pizza crusts. It’s an injury buffet out there!
Urban Hygiene: A Matter of Safety First
So, how do we define the term “urban hygiene“? You might think it’s about sprinkling some fairy dust but in reality, it refers to a comprehensive system that includes recycling, reusing, recovery, treatment, and disposal of urban waste. Did I mention manual and mechanized activities? Yes, the world of waste management is definitely not short on complexity!
The main tasks for these urban hygiene operators include separate collection, unsorted waste collection, and what they call “cleaning urban areas.” And let’s be real—nobody cleans the streets like an Italian. It’s practically an art form—though we must remember, it often takes place right in the midst of public highways. How’s that for a daily dose of adrenaline?
Wrapping Up the Rubbish
In conclusion, Italy’s approach to urban hygiene is both intricate and a tad hazardous. The new Inail document serves as a vital guide for risk assessment and safety procedures. We take our hats off to the pioneers brave enough to navigate debris daily while adhering to safety standards!
If you want to explore this document further, you can find it here.
So, next time you toss that Italian pastry into the bin, remember: there’s far more beneath the surface than just rubbish. There’s a world of heroes on the frontline of waste that deserves our respect. Until next time, may your trash days be fewer and your napkin usage judicious!
Rome, 30 Oct – While Europe generates approximately 230 million tonnes of urban waste annually, Italy has witnessed a “fluctuating trend over the last decade, with reductions attributed to decreased consumption and the implementation of new regulatory measures that have altered the definition and accounting practices for municipal solid waste (MSW).” These changes have had significant implications for waste management across the country.
In Italy, the quantity of urban waste produced in 2022 was just under 30 million tonnes, signifying a downturn compared to 2021. The door-to-door collection method, although requiring further insights into its management across various territories, constitutes a “substantial percentage of the overall waste collection system.” This emphasizes the crucial role of effective waste collection strategies in managing urban refuse.
A recent report formulated by the Technical Consultancy for Health and Safety (CTSS) of Inail elaborates on the scope of the urban waste sector. It particularly sheds light on the notable risks and preventive measures necessary for personnel operating within this challenging environment.
The newly published document – entitled “Health and Safety for waste collection and urban hygiene operators” by Annalisa Guercio (Inail, CTSS General Directorate) – is built upon insights from previous Inail publications, including the 2009 booklet “Safety for waste collection and urban hygiene operators” and the “SGSL-U Guidelines – Health and safety management system for water, environmental, energy, and funeral service companies.” These resources aim to provide a comprehensive overview of safety protocols in the waste management sector.
The document represents the culmination of a sector study conducted by the CTSS of Inail, developed over several years through “direct observation of multiple operational scenarios” and supported by various agreements and protocols established since 2009 with organizations such as Federambiente, Fondazione Rubes Triva, and Utilitalia. The primary goal is to assess “the potentially synergistic work-related risks present in these highly complex operations” and to delineate “appropriate prevention and protection systems, both collective and individual, encompassing managerial, organizational, and technological-planning aspects, alongside interventions aimed at improving working conditions.” This reflects a proactive approach to enhancing safety standards in waste collection and urban hygiene.
In the article elaborating on the document, special emphasis is placed on the following subjects:
Waste collection: accident trends in the urban hygiene sector
The report outlines a critical section detailing the accident trends in the urban hygiene sector.
As part of a collaborative Memorandum of Understanding between Inail and Utilitalia – a federation representing companies in public water, environmental, electricity, and gas services – “numerous collection studies” have been conducted, including analyses and reports on accident statistics and occupational diseases. Notably, a thorough analysis of incidents from 2013 to 2017 reveals a 6.4% decrease in accidents, contrasted against a 13% annual increase in employees, indicative of a positive trend in safety measures amid workforce growth.
Despite this improvement, the accident frequency index (62.93 injuries per 1,000 employees per year) remains significantly high, more than three times that of the general Industry and Services management categorization according to Inail Premium Rate, thus characterizing the urban hygiene sector as a high-risk area for accidents.
The majority of workplace accidents occur without the involvement of transport vehicles and lead to an average of roughly 30 days of work absences annually among operators, primarily affecting Italian men aged 50-64 years. The prevalent injuries include dislocations, strains, sprains, and bruises. An analysis of accident causes points to “physical or mental exertion, crushing incidents involving objects, and contact with blunt materials” as leading factors, often resulting from body movements, slips, and loss of control. Open public spaces, particularly public streets, emerge as the most frequent accident locations, while the types of tasks most prone to accidents relate to associated activities in waste management, collection, and transportation.
In conclusion, “dorsopathies and shoulder injuries represent the most acknowledged occupational diseases within the industry,” underscoring the need for comprehensive health and safety initiatives.
Safety in waste collection: what is meant by urban hygiene?
The term “urban hygiene” encompasses a service integral to the comprehensive management of the urban waste cycle, also covering phases post-collection, such as recycling, reuse, recovery, treatment, and final disposal. Urban hygiene activities are further categorized into three processes: “separate collections, unsorted waste collection, and cleaning of urban areas,” which includes street sweeping, washing, and weeding.
These activities are characterized by their execution ‘on the road‘, occurring in locations, whether public or private, not directly managed by the respective waste management companies. “Road work” involves a broad range of tasks aimed at maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of urban spaces, which involve manual and mechanized collection, transportation, and disposal of waste.
The full Inail document offers an extensive examination of street work, referencing applicable legislative frameworks including the Legislative decree 9 April 2008, n. 81, thereby providing crucial guidance on operational safety standards.
The index of the Inail document
In conclusion, we present the index of the Inail document “Health and Safety for waste collection and urban hygiene operators.”
Preface
The current framework of waste management
1 Risk assessment methodology
2 Urban hygiene activities
2.1 Waste collection
2.1.1 Manual collection
2.1.2 Mechanized harvesting
2.2 Road sweeping
2.2.1 Mechanized sweeping
2.2.2 Manual sweeping
2.3 Other activities
2.4 Innovative collection and urban hygiene systems
3 Professional risks
3.1 Security Risks
3.1.1 Risks from working on the road
3.1.2 Risks from interactions with machines and equipment
3.1.3 Risk of accidents linked to the presence of waste
3.2 Health risks
3.2.1 Biological agents
3.2.2 Risk from manual handling of goods (MMC)
3.2.3 Physical agents
3.2.3.1 Vibration risk
3.2.3.2 Noise risk
3.2.3.3 Risks from exposure to natural optical radiation and microclimates
3.2.4 Chemical agents
3.3 The impact of the organization on working conditions and the physical and social working environment
4 Prevention and protection systems
4.1 Prevention systems
4.1.1 General organizational measures
4.1.2 Specific organizational measures
4.1.3 Technical measures
4.1.4 Procedural measures
4.1.5 “Political” initiatives
4.2 Protection systems
5 To remember better: the risk and prevention and protection systems sheets
Glossary
Insights
Tiziano Menduto
Download the document from which the article is taken:
Inail, Technical consultancy for health and safety, “Health and Safety for waste collection and urban hygiene operators”, edited by Annalisa Guercio (Inail, Ctss General Directorate) – Health and Safety series, 2024 edition (PDF format, 8.23 MB).
Go to the area reserved for subscribers dedicated to “Waste collection and urban hygiene: health and safety for operators”.
