Less waste

The URBAN II programme covers the southern suburbs of Turin, which have a surface area of 2.135 km2 and a population of 24 843 inhabitants. Located beside the FIAT industrial site, "Mirafiori Nord", the area is struggling with severe social and economic problems: deteriorating social housing, environmental damage, decaying buildings and public spaces, unemployment, crime, poverty and low levels of education and training. A number of primary roads also cross the area, creating high levels of air and noise pollution. However, on the positive side, the area does have a significant amount of green space. The challenge for URBAN II is to improve the quality of the urban environment. This is a goal in itself, but will also improve the context for entrepreneurship and social cohesion. With the local authorised dumping site scheduled to cease operating in 2004, the city of Turin will have to reduce and recycle its waste. To achieve this, an integrated waste management plan has been approved by the municipality, and the URBAN II project will help implement this. The project is being organised in two phases. The first phase will attempt to bring about a change in habits, and will include environmental communication and training. A second "negotiation" phase will enable inhabitants to participate in decision-making relating to the waste management plan. By a process of collective decision-making, areas for differentiated refuse collection will be selected in each neighbourhood and the appropriate facilities put in place. Schools, apartment block administrators and commercial operators will also be involved in the project. The expected results are an improvement in the environmental quality of the area, a reduction in the amount of waste being brought to the incinerator, and an increase in the separation of waste by category (from the current 30% to 50%).