Survive Naples

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My previous reports have examined the Naples garbage crisis and its development in recent months. The general buzz about town is that things are improving and today’s predicted announcement that Naples is past the worst of it’s problems is welcome. Many, however, continue to wonder what the future will hold.

These images show photos taken of sites in late June contrasted with photos taken today, July 18th. In some instances there has been improvement, in others the situation has stayed the same. The Italian Government stated that its new efforts will concentrate on the development of a more sophisticated collection system. Without this system in place now, however, the piles will continue to regenerate.
Many piles have gone untouched, others have been cleared away, but no alternative dumping site was proposed. Other dumpsters are emptied regularly, but the overflowing trash sits right beside the empty dumpster and is not removed.

Garbage lining the country roads is in close proximity to the regions buffalo ranches used to produce the premier regional product, mozzarella di buffala. In March investigations showed that a small percentage of the product was made with milk contaminated by dioxins. These chemicals were a direct result of illegal dumping and burning of garbage.

The final image of a man throwing garbage onto an illegal dumpsite displays what be the government’s biggest problem…educating the public and changing the habits developed over the last decade.