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Leading the way



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Milan, the northern Italian city, has been able to achieve during a crisis, might offer a ready solution to other European Union (eu) nations. The city was able to triple its collection of recyclable waste almost overnight when one of its landfill sites was abruptly closed under local pressure in 1995. Milan had to dispose off 1,700 tonnes of its daily output of household rubbish.

The city launched Europe's first scheme for recycling packaging waste. It initiated door-to-door collection of paper, glass and plastic for recycling. Around 30 per cent of Milan's domestic waste is now recycled, while the rest is incinerated to generate electricity, or sent to other landfill sites. eu countries have to meet the deadline for recycling 15 per cent of each type of packaging by ad 2001.

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