ITALY: Report on radioactive waste trafficking also draws attention to domestic waste problem

National environmental NGO Legambiente and Italy’s military police have presented a report entitled Radioactive Legacy.

The report states that an estimated 5,000 tonnes of radioactive metal waste is smuggled into Italy each year from Eastern Europe, with entry via Lombardy a frequently-used route. The report calls for a network of border checks to be established and criminal charges against radioactive waste traffickers.

Legambiente has also pointed out that Italy’s own nuclear waste must be dealt with. It states that 24,000 tonnes of radioactive material is currently stored in old nuclear reactors as well as public and private buildings. In addition, 2,000 tonnes of radioactive waste is produced annually by Italian hospitals and industries. Legambiente wants comprehensive legislation on radioactive waste disposal to be passed in order to provide a framework for the long-term disposal of domestic radioactive waste and policy for dealing with smuggled material.