CommunityRomeCalatafimi Segesta: 87.7% source separation in rural SicilyA 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.recyclingsource-separationrural +1
