The President of the Sicilian Region, Nello Musumeci, has issued new provisions for the Waste Collection and Disposal Service through ordinance no. 1/Rif of 27 March 2020, with particular attention to dwellings in which there are:
- Positive test subjects or those in mandatory quarantine (A)
- Subjects in quarantine with active surveillance (A1)
- Non-quarantined subjects (B).
In the cases As of A1, separate waste collection is suspended, therefore all waste, regardless of its nature, is considered unsorted and thus collected and disposed of together. (Art. 2, paragraph 4-A-B)
These waste materials must be re-sealed using at least two bags, one inside the other (or a greater number depending on their mechanical strength), preferably using a pedal bin. (Art. 2, paragraph 4-C)
Bags must be properly sealed using disposable gloves; they must be kept intact and therefore not crushed or compressed; access by pets to areas where waste bags are present must be prevented. (Art. 2, paragraph 4-D)
Type A waste is managed separately from others with detailed operating procedures that each municipality will adopt according to the specific characteristics of its territory and its organisation, minimising contamination risks. (Article 2, paragraph 4-E)
For waste type A1, the service continues to be provided by the municipality through the service provider, using specially trained personnel. (Art. 2, paragraph 5)
For waste from type B users, the current collection procedures will be maintained, and separate waste collection will not be interrupted.
However, as a precautionary measure, used tissues, paper rolls, masks and gloves must be disposed of in general waste. Furthermore, at least two bags, one inside the other, or a larger number depending on the mechanical resistance of the bags, must be used. It is recommended to properly close the bags, using disposable gloves, without crushing them with your hands, using ties or adhesive tape, and to dispose of them according to current procedures.
The ASPs, where the service is managed by the Municipalities, must communicate to them the data relating to Type A users strictly necessary to enable collection, indicating its duration. The Municipalities transmit the necessary data, relating to Type A and A1 users, to their own service providers. All communications must guarantee the protection of privacy.
In all other dwellings, i.e. those where there are no infected individuals, normal waste collection procedures remain in force, including separate waste collection where active.
Any additional costs incurred by municipalities to deal with the emergency – the ordinance specifies – will not result in an increase in the council tax.
