Research and Projects

Waste-to-energy improved its emissions contributions in the last 20 years thanks to new EU norms and improved abatement technologies. Nevertheless, the waste sector continues to have an impact on gas emissions, provoking diseases and premature deaths.

This project aims to esteem the health-related external costs of waste incineration and waste landfilling through an integrated approach using EVA model (Economic Valuation Air pollution), DEHM model (Danish Eulerian Hemispheric Model), VSL (Valuation of Statistical Life) and VOLY (Value of Life Year). 

Work in progress with Prof. Andersen of Aarhus university in connection with the H2020 Marches projects. 

Policymakers put in place incentives to improve sorting behaviour. The pay-as-you-know (PAYT) scheme regulates waste tariffs in compliance with the amount of waste delivered. Know-as-you-know (KAYT) contributes to the rise in citizens' engagement in waste issues, informing them about waste sorting good practices. 

How do monetary and non-monetary incentives work in changing citizens' behaviours? Do citizens respond to nudges applied to increase waste sorting? How social norms and free-riding behaviours affect the effectiveness of waste communication. 

Thank you to a field experiment, the behaviour of citizens living in apartment buildings will be analysed before and after the nudging treatment.

Work in progress with Prof. Bucciol and Prof. Quercia, University of Verona.  

The waste sorting rate reached outstanding values in some areas of the Veneto Region (Italy), thanks to local authorities' dedicated approach to setting innovative policies and engaging citizens in improving their sorting behaviours. 

The regional government applied a common tariff, adopting parameters to reward virtue areas and pushing others lagging behind to change their waste management policies. The aim is to have a more homogenous approach concerning waste management and reach an excellent recycling rate. 

The project designed the new Unified Regional Waste Tariff, adopting the new waste tariff method (MTR-2) defined by the national authority (ARERA) to set a common basis for applying rewarding parameters. The Unified Tariff entered into force in January 2025. 

One internship in the regional authority for the environment (ARPAV), section dedicated to waste management (Osservatorio Rifiuti).