Calatafimi Segesta: 87.7% source separation in rural Sicily

A small Sicilian town at the top of Europe's waste rankings

Calatafimi Segesta, a municipality of around 6,000 in the province of Trapani, Sicily, achieved over 87.7% source separation of municipal solid waste: one of the highest rates in Italy and among the best in Europe. In a country where Sicily's aggregate recycling performance lags the national average, Calatafimi Segesta stands as proof that ambition and community participation matter more than location or wealth.

What drives the result

• Rigorous door-to-door collection for all fractions: organics, paper, plastics, glass, residual
• A culture of participation built through consistent communication with residents
• Close collaboration with the local waste operator and Zero Waste Italy
• Regular monitoring and public reporting of results

What you can do

• If your municipality is below 50% separate collection, ask your waste operator and council what it would take to adopt door-to-door collection
• Share Calatafimi Segesta's results as evidence when advocating for better collection in your area
• Follow Zero Waste Italy for case studies and advocacy support

Why it matters

At 87.7%, Calatafimi Segesta diverts nearly nine tonnes in ten from disposal. Multiplied across the 340-municipality Italian Zero Waste network, this model has the potential to remove millions of tonnes of waste from landfills and incinerators.

Source & repost

Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it.

• National coordinator: Zero Waste Italy (ZWI)
• Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition