MILAN (ITALPRESS) – Also for these holidays, between December 2025 and January 2026, an increase of the packaging conferred in collection differentiated by Italian citizens is expected. The first CONAI estimates indicate, as for the past years, a growth of flows at the end of life: for plastic and glass the increments in the quotations could vary between 4% and 7%, while for the paper the increase could locally reach points of 10%.
“The sample analysis, comparing the data of the previous years with the forecasts provided by the managers of some Italian cities, leads to outline this scenario,” explains Fabio Costarella, Deputy Director General CONAI. “The economic situation of the country remains heterogeneous and it is not easy to predict whether the trend will be more or less strong. But an increase in consumption between December and January remains physiological, and it makes it reasonable to expect an increase in differentiated collection rates. Confcommercio’s forecasts indicate, for example, that for the only Christmas gifts every Italian will spend on average 211 euros: an increase in consumption that brings with it a greater quantity of packaging”.
As it happens every year, paper and cardboard packaging will grow, in particular packaging for shipments, packaging of Christmas products and gift paper, as well as plastic packaging, such as films, wraps, trays and food packaging. With regard to glass, the increase will cover mainly bottles of wine, sparkling wine and liqueurs, typical of the holiday period.
“In some territories the percentages may be higher than our estimates,” continues Costarella. “In recent years economic uncertainty and changes in consumption have made predictive activity more complex, but it remains essential that citizens correctly deliver packaging. The country system is able to manage these volumes without criticality, provided that the quality of the collection remains high”. For this reason, during the holidays it is important to pay particular attention to how waste is differentiated.
The paper used to wrap the gifts is recyclable and is to be conferred in the collection of paper and cardboard, as well as the outer packaging of bread and bread. The clashes, except for different indications on the back, must instead be thrown into the undifferentiated because made of chemical paper.
But also oiled paper and baked paper are not recyclable unless expressly indicated, and should not be conferred with paper. As for glass, Christmas decorations, borosilicate glass pyrophiles and ceramics should not be conferred with glass packaging, because they would compromise the quality of the collection. The broken crystal glasses must also be thrown into the undifferentiated: “The crystal contains lead, and few crystal fragments compromise large amounts of recyclable glass,” explains Fabio Costarella.
The wooden boxes used to package wine bottles or liqueurs must instead be brought to the ecological islands. Finally, for plastics, broken toys and objects that are not packaging should not be inserted in the separate collection, but conferred in the undifferentiated refusal or brought into the collection centers. All plastic packaging must be emptied before delivery, while flexible packaging should be crushed to reduce volume.
“It is good to remove the labels covering from the bottles or bottles,” adds Costarella, “and then to give in separate collection both the label and the bottle. It is a help to recyclers, who can thus better manage packaging during preparation for recovery and recycling.” “With a packaging recycling rate of more than 76%, Italy is stable among the countries of reference in Europe in the field of circular economy,” concludes Fabio Costarella.
“The maintenance and strengthening of this result requires a constant and shared commitment, even during periods characterized by an increase in consumption. A correct differentiated collection allows you to value resources, support sustainability goals and consolidate a model that the country has progressively built over time.”.
-Photo press office Conai-
(ITALPRESS).
