More than 150 thousand glasses, trays, cutlery and containers are consumed and thrown away in one weekend by businesses in via Sarpi, “we are talking about more than 30 million pieces per year”. The street food outlet already has more than 80 shop windows, protests over the incursion of countless rubbish and fines and excess services from Amsa, as also acknowledged by the City Government, are not enough to solve the problem. Two days ago the Sala council approved a resolution formalizing participation in a regional tender offering a contribution of between 50 thousand and 150 thousand euros to the Municipality to promote the “territorial sustainability pact”. And Palazzo Marino participates with the pilot project “Milan Zero Waste Policy” in Paolo Sarp. Goal of zero waste (or close to it). As? Eliminates the use of single-use containers. The leading entities are the Municipality, Amsa, Amat, Milan Polytechnic and Giacimenti Urbani. Sarpi, the resolution says, “is one of the most vital centers, the heart of street food” but the street and the area around it “are crucial for the management of single-use waste associated with the provision of food and drink on the go”. And “despite the increase in waste collection, the installation of high-capacity waste bins (240 liters), the increase in fines, the situation remains complicated”. The average arrival on weekends is 30 thousand people per day. Amsa collected 14-15 tons of unsorted waste between Friday and Sunday on Via Sarpi alone.
The costs borne by the Municipality are increasing (at least offset by sanctions), residents “irritated by the degradation” have “repeatedly asked the council”. Therefore, Chinatown could be “an ideal area to experiment with the use of reusable containers.” This can be resolved with a deposit system, with payment of a small amount and return upon return of the container, except in cases – to be promoted – where the customer uses a private container (Byo, bring your own). The management of the deposits will be entrusted to the operator, who will be able to use the unreturned amounts to finance part of the management activities. If the business does not have an internal space and a washing system, the use of “Reverse Vending Machines” will be considered: technological equipment already widespread in some EU countries, capable of automatically managing container returns and deposit refunds. Once filled, the RVM will be emptied by an external industrial washing and sanitation service, with third sector agency support for transport and return. If it obtains regional funding, the Municipality will add 10/25 thousand euros from its own resources. And it could replicate the tests carried out in Darsena, Navigli, the Isola district, Citylife, the San Siro stadium during concerts and matches, “even temporary events such as exhibitions and festivals that generate large amounts of waste”. The container should be light, practical and easy to return. The Polytechnic will propose the most suitable model. The City Government will propose a “pact” of cooperation with street food operators and various bodies, the Chamber of Commerce as a guarantor of relations with the business world, the Chinese community, schools, neighborhood associations such as ViviSarpi.
Consumers are also “invited to adopt more sustainable consumption practices.” The basis is a timely census of activities, the amount and type of packaging used and the possibility of providing a washing system.
Chiara Campo
