A treasure of 2,300 tons hidden in 4,600 tons of plastic waste! An Italian town launches a polyethylene recycling revolution.

On April 1, 2025, Ecopolietilene and STR jointly announced a landmark achievement in polyethylene recycling experiments. Over their three-year collaboration (2022-2024), the two organizations successfully separated 2,300 tons of polyethylene products from 4,600 tons of urban plastic waste. This figure is equivalent to converting half a landfill's worth of "white pollution" into recyclable "green gold."

As a professional organization under the Alliance for Ecological Lighting Systems dedicated to polyethylene management, Ecopolietilene has partnered with STR, the leading solid waste management company in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont Region, to implement a special classification and recycling program. This initiative not only increased the identification rate of polyethylene products by 40% but also innovatively transformed the recycled materials into industrial raw materials such as construction films and regenerated pipes.

The core measures of the project include:

1. Establish a professional sorting training system to enable environmental center staff to master the precise identification technology of polyethylene products.
2. Set up dedicated recycling containers to achieve physical separation of polyethylene products from other plastics.
3. Developing a complete industrial chain closed loop for 'toys - pipes - building materials'

"These seemingly ordinary plastic bags, irrigation pipes, and children's toys are, in fact, an inexhaustible resource pool." Giancarlo Dezio, General Manager of Ecopolietilene, emphasized, "By establishing dedicated classification standards, we are building a true circular economy ecosystem."

Piero Bertolusso, the head of STR, added: "When we discovered that nearly half of the recycled plastic was part of the polyethylene family, we realized this was a game-changer. Now, not only have we protected the environment, but we have also created new economic value."

Data shows that during the project implementation period, the recycling of 2,300 tons of polyethylene products is equivalent to reducing 34,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saving 12,000 cubic meters of landfill space. These recycled materials have been successfully applied in multiple fields such as construction and agriculture, truly realizing the sustainable development concept of 'from cradle to cradle'.

The success of this experimental project has provided a replicable 'Cuneo model' for the nationwide promotion of polyethylene classification and recycling in Italy. As the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan advances, this environmental revolution that began in a small town is now sparking a new wave of plastic recycling across Southern Europe.

 

 

Compiler: Lily

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