As of Monday, March 24, 2025, Naples will officially launch the "Napoli Differente nel Cuore" project aimed at reorganizing waste collection in the city’s central districts. This initiative, backed by the Municipality of Naples and Asia Napoli, with support from the Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi, seeks to enhance the system of recycling and waste management within the Quartieri Spagnoli and San Ferdinando areas.
This project comes at a pivotal moment, addressing the challenges of urban waste while promoting a cleaner and more organized environment. Officially set to roll out in the Quartieri Spagnoli, and later extending to the Centro Antico and Centro Commerciale neighborhoods by May 26, 2025, this initiative will touch approximately 80,000 residents. This includes 30,300 households and 4,180 businesses.
The overarching goal of this project is ambitious yet crucial: to increase differentiated waste collection by 15%. Specific days have been allocated for various waste types: paper and cardboard will be collected on Mondays; non-recyclable waste on Tuesdays and Saturdays; and organic waste on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Unique schedules are designed specifically for businesses, including daily collection of organic materials from restaurants, more frequent pickups for bars and fruit and vegetable shops, and evening collections for multi-material and cardboard waste.
Vincenzo Santagada, the Councillor for Green and Public Health for the Municipality of Naples, emphasized the necessity of community cooperation in achieving the project’s goals. “We continue with determination in optimizing the collection and recovery process,” he stated, highlighting the vital role that residents will play in sustaining these efforts.
Local leaders have expressed positive expectations regarding this new system. Giovanna Mazzone, President of the I Municipality, along with her counterpart Alberto Ruffolo, stated, “We hope that the collection system meets the characteristics and needs of the area.” This sentiment is echoed by Roberto Marino, President of the II Municipality, who remarked, “We are convinced that the new uniform calendars will facilitate collection operations and residents’ compliance.
The initiation of the "Napoli Differente nel Cuore" project has been preceded by an extensive engagement campaign to inform residents about the new protocols. Information points have been established, and customized calendars along with recycling kits were distributed to help residents adjust. “Monday we start an important project that will allow the city to take another step forward in waste collection,” noted Domenico Ruggiero, the sole administrator of Asia Napoli.
Ruggiero added that residents have shown significant enthusiasm about the new initiatives, emphasizing a growing awareness of Naples’ potential as a major European city. “We feel a strong sense of responsibility and are ready to engage actively with our community,” he said, expressing confidence in the collective effort required for a successful rollout.
The project underscores the need for an adaptable waste system that can effectively respond to the community's needs. With the goal of reducing littering and optimizing the collection of recyclable materials, the municipal collaboration aims to enhance the overall aesthetic and environmental conditions of the neighborhoods involved.
As the project unfolds, residents can expect continued communication about the progress and adjustments through dedicated channels. For any inquiries, a toll-free number has been established, alongside an official website and social media platforms to keep citizens informed and engaged with the initiative.
The "Napoli Differente nel Cuore" project represents a significant step towards transforming how Naples manages its waste, setting a promising precedent for future sustainability efforts in urban areas. The active involvement of its citizens will be crucial as Naples journeys towards a more environmentally conscious identity.
