Classifying and managing asbestos containing waste: Italian experience

: Until the 1990s Italy was the first world producer of asbestos, although in 1992 it became one of the first countries to ban this substance internationally, introducing law 257/1992, which prohibits the extraction and production of asbestos and asbestos containing products. The aim of this job is to describe some international experiences in the field of asbestos containing waste (ACW) management, focusing on the acceptance of waste in landfills and deposits and/or pre-treatment centers. In particular, the methodology envisages the analysis of the European and Italian legislation, study of waste classification and management in the main European countries, data analysis of mapping of Italian landfills and quantification of ACW disposed there. The results show criticalities on the classification and management of ACW or non-compliance on a local scale with European and National regulations. Such inconsistencies are the result of an inadequate interpretation of the sector legislation, which is complex and articulated, while, in other cases, of intentional illegal activities. In this paper the main problems of the sector are will be highlighted, and it could be a useful tool for a better classification and management of the ACW. These indications could also be adopted as a reference by various public authorities and trade associations involved in the management of this type of waste. Finally, this study will report the specific tables with indications on the main ACW, on the relevant European waste classification codes to be applied and on the correct final destination in landfills where they should be disposed of; it is a useful manual for classifying worldwide ACPs (asbestos containing products) based on their physical state