“Who really benefits from the waste-to-energy plant?” That is the question raised by the Gualdicciolo Citizens’ Group for the Protection of Health and the Environment, which has entered the debate over the proposal to build such a facility in San Marino and has come out firmly against the project.
The group shares the concerns already voiced by the Sammarinese Mycological Association, noting that it has spent years opposing proposals for waste incineration plants. Among the main criticisms raised are the environmental and landscape impact, the increase in heavy vehicle traffic, and the potential consequences for air, water and soil pollution.
The residents also object to the possibility that the facility could be run by a private company, even one with majority public ownership, questioning what interests might lie behind the operation.
They are therefore calling on policymakers to weigh more carefully a decision considered to have a major impact on the territory. The group argues that San Marino should instead build on its already well-established track record in waste reduction, recycling and separate collection, with the aim of becoming a model in the circular economy, energy efficiency, and the protection of health and the environment.
