La determinazione regionale degli ambiti territoriali ottimali per la gestione dei rifiuti e le politiche europee in materia di economia circolare

The paper analyses the influence of EU law on the allocation of administrative functions in municipal waste management, with a particular focus on the delicate task of delimiting the Ambiti Territoriali Ottimali (ATOs) that Italian law entrusts to the Regions. It is noted how EU policies for the circular economy impose higher standards of efficiency, influencing the sizing of ATOs. The importance of a dialogue on the issue between the regions and EU institutions is therefore highlighted, aimed at enabling a standardization of waste management levels on a national and European scale. In this context, the possible role of the Provinces in organizing the service is also considered.