What’s this project all about?

Addressing waste is not just an environmental issue; it concerns people’s needs, behaviors, and relationships. This project aims at leveraging the social aspects of human behavior to address complex waste management issues in an exemplary community in rural Italy.

Torremaggiore is a quiet agricultural town in southern Italy where about 60% of waste is recycled. Yet, waste is often left abandoned in and out of town, while part of the population is not engaged in recycling efforts. In fact, sustainable waste management practices are not yet acknowledged as legitimate and this generates tension.

Through a community engagement action, all community members – citizens, municipal representatives, waste management staff, environmental associations – come together to learn about waste management, share tips, questions, and engage in conversations with each other. The initiative sees each stakeholder play a different role while various social needs are uncovered and addressed.

This approach simultaneously promotes good practices and builds bridges among stakeholders, working as a model for enhancing public participation in similar communities as well as in other realms of the public sector.

Who’s the service designer behind this project?

Marta Angelillis graduated from the Master Service of the HSLU in 2022.