Adnkronos Rome, November 12 (Adnkronos) – The day dedicated to "Dialogues on the Circular Economy," organized by the Dimensione Ambiente Group at Ecomondo 2025, concluded with a broad and distinguished turnout. The initiative—moderated by Paolo Ghezzi, civil engineer, sole director of Getas Petrogeo, and professor of the Master's in Circular Economy at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa—offered a space for direct and practical discussion on some of the most pressing issues facing the waste sector: industrial innovation, territorial governance, and environmental crime reform.
The meetings, structured as one-on-one discussions open to the public, alternated presentations by experts, administrators, and institutional representatives, offering an authoritative and concrete overview of the challenges and prospects of a strategic sector for the ecological transition. The morning session was dedicated to the role of public and private entrepreneurship in building competitive circular supply chains. The regulatory issue was addressed by Nadia Ramazzini, an environmental lawyer, who presented the contents of the Circular Economy Act, the new European framework aimed at standardizing rules and standards for the circular economy: "The Circular Economy Act marks a paradigm shift: it recognizes the sector's full industrial dignity, promoting a single European market for waste and secondary raw materials. This is a challenge that also concerns Italy, already at the forefront of packaging recycling, but it opens up new prospects for WEEE and the textiles sector, where extended producer responsibility will be crucial for the development of new supply chains."
For Alessia Scappini, CEO of Albe Srl and Revet Spa, the circular economy today represents an industrial lever, even before it becomes an environmental one: "Albe and Revet operate on different but complementary fronts: they transform waste to end-of-waste, returning regenerated products to companies that reduce their carbon footprint and replace virgin raw materials. These materials are a competitive advantage for the production system, capable of combining sustainability and economic value." Scappini highlighted how the use of renewable energy and the recovery of process water make production cycles even more sustainable, in a short supply chain approach that closely connects local area and industry.
In his speech, Daniele Fortini, president of RetiAmbiente, shared the experience of Tuscany's leading public company in integrated waste management: "RetiAmbiente serves 1,3 million residents in 100 municipalities. We've reached 72% separate waste collection, but without adequate recycling facilities, the cycle remains incomplete. We're investing in an innovative plant fleet, with solutions for the recovery of textiles, greenery, street sweeping, excavated soil, and bulky waste. This approach will allow us to retain secondary raw materials locally and reduce costs for residents."
An example of territorial governance came from Renzo Macelloni, mayor of Peccioli, who described the functioning of the so-called "Peccioli system," based on the collaboration between the Municipality, the public company Belvedere Spa, and the Peccioli Foundation: "Our model is based on a widespread and grassroots shareholder base that unites citizens and businesses, building consensus and shared responsibility. The landfill is an integral part of this system: as long as non-recoverable waste exists, safe and controlled disposal is essential. The resources generated have allowed us to invest in mechanical-biological treatment plants, biomethane, and now in oxy-combustion, which will allow us to close the cycle without producing new waste."
The afternoon session was dedicated to analyzing the new law on environmental crimes (No. 147/2025), which has tightened the sanctions framework and expanded administrative and criminal liability in environmental matters. Nino Tarantino, Deputy Commissioner for the Remediation of Illegal Landfills, reviewed the main activities of the commissioner's office, from the Land of Fires to contaminated areas: "Our commitment is to provide citizens with answers in terms of transparency and operational effectiveness, making the progress of remediation and health inspections in the affected areas traceable. The new legislation, along with our work, represents a concrete response to the ECHR ruling that condemned Italy for inadequate management of environmental emergencies."
On the operational level, Giuseppe Giove, General of the Carabinieri Forestry Division, outlined three key points of the reform: "The law expands the crimes covered by administrative liability pursuant to Legislative Decree 231/2001, increases penalties for illegal trafficking and waste burning, and introduces the possibility of undercover operations for environmental crimes. But beyond repression, we need a civic awareness that recognizes how environmental crimes put the future of future generations at risk."
For Pietro Ferraris, a lawyer specializing in environmental law, the reform changes the balance between criminal and administrative justice: "The general framework remains unchanged, but the number of cases in which a criminal conviction can lead to the revocation of permits has expanded, including under anti-mafia laws. This shift requires businesses to be even more vigilant in managing their responsibilities."
A complementary perspective was offered by Luciano Paciello, a criminal lawyer, who highlighted some critical issues with the new regulatory framework: "The increased penalties and the 'demystification' of environmental crimes reduce mediation tools, such as fines, and the particularly trivial nature of the offense, making the system more rigid. The consequences could also be significant for businesses, which risk being excluded from public tenders or placed under judicial administration. The legislation will need to be adjusted after its initial practical implementation."
The Dimensione Ambiente Group's overall outcome was positive. "With the Circular Economy Dialogues, we wanted to offer a forum for concrete discussion, where technical knowledge intertwines with governance experiences and the new regulations of the sector," commented Umberto Cucchetti, the Group's General Manager. "We believe that knowledge and transparency are the foundations of shared responsibility, essential for building a truly circular economy." "For us at Dimensione Ambiente," commented Stefano Capra, the company's owner, "Ecomondo is an opportunity to meet with clients, colleagues, and other industry professionals. With our panels, we wanted to provide a cultural and educational contribution to highly topical issues, fostering awareness, information, and responsibility."
Not only during Ecomondo, Dimensione Ambiente officially announced the acquisition of Ecologia Ambiente, a Como-based company with over twenty-five years of experience in the sector. The acquisition is part of the Group's nationwide consolidation and growth strategy, aiming to expand its regional presence and integrate new expertise into the environmental management supply chain. Ecologia Ambiente specializes in the micro-separated waste collection and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous special waste, including potentially infectious waste and medical waste. With an authorized storage capacity of 1.500 m3 and a treatment capacity of 15.000 tons annually, the Como facility's 6-square-meter footprint serves over 10 customers, including 2200 pharmacies (where it collects pharmaceuticals and chemicals), laboratories, medical practices, and approximately 8000 artisanal and industrial businesses.
"The addition of Ecologia Ambiente to the Group represents a significant step in our development," stated Umberto Cucchetti, General Manager of the Dimensione Ambiente Group. "It is a solid and recognized company with extensive experience in managing medical and industrial waste. The addition of this new expertise will allow us to offer our customers an even more comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable service, in compliance with the highest environmental and organizational standards."