The Italian city of Venice suffers overtourism – and plastic bins to overflow. The collection works, but the bins fill up in 15 minutes. It is one of Venice’s many uphill battles against the invasion of plastic, a direct consequence of the city’s tourist influx. During the summer months in particular, the lagoon capital sees an exponential increase in the number of plastic containers and bottles left in the city centre’s rubbish bins, which are already overflowing by mid-morning.
And it is not a problem of collection: the waste collection service provided by Veritas, a subsidiary of the city council, is working effectively. A study carried out before the Covid pandemic calculated that it takes 15 minutes for a rubbish bin located between Piazzetta San Marco and the quay of the same name to become saturated with bottles and cans during the tourist season. It was impossible to collect them in that time.
This explains the pictures of the apparent degradation of the rubbish bins in the St Mark’s area, overflowing with bottles and cans that even end up on the pavement. Add to this the rudeness of some tourists who still leave bottles or takeaway containers in the most hidden corners, where they remain for days before being discovered and removed. In the past, Venice has also launched campaigns to encourage its visitors to use metal flasks, which can be refilled at public fountains, instead of water bottles. An appeal that seems to have had no effect.
Information taken from the Italian News Agency ANSA
see also the NGO Venice Tap Water, struggling against the plastic waste and providing a map of water fountains in the city
