Discarica

Discarica is the Italian term for a site where waste is disposed of, most commonly for solid municipal waste. In everyday usage it covers both legally authorized landfills and illegal dumps. The concept contrasts with other waste-treatment options such as incineration, recycling, and material recovery. In regulatory terms, a discarica is a facility that receives waste for permanent disposal under permit and subject to environmental controls.

Types and operation: Authorized discariche, often called sanitary landfills, are engineered to minimize environmental impact through liners, leachate collection systems, daily soil covers, and gas collection to capture methane. An illegal discarica, or discarica abusiva, lacks proper permitting and controls and poses higher risks to soil and groundwater. Older sites may function as uncontrolled open dumps with limited containment.

Environmental impacts and regulation: Discariche can affect soil, groundwater, and air quality, mainly through leachate and landfill gas. Proper design, operation, and post-closure care are required to reduce pollution and manage methane emissions. Under European Union waste legislation, including the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive, member states limit what waste can be landfilled, promote recycling and energy recovery, and require monitoring and closure procedures. In Italy, waste management is further governed by national regulations, including Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent amendments.

Current trends: Many regions are moving away from disposal in landfills toward higher rates of sorting, recycling, composting, and energy recovery from waste. Nevertheless, discariche remain a part of the waste-management landscape, especially for residual waste and in areas with limited infrastructure, giving rise to ongoing regulatory and remediation efforts.