The Municipality of Teramo has launched a project to overhaul its urban waste management system, introducing a pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) tariff starting on March 1, 2025. The initiative aims to make the system fairer and more sustainable by charging citizens based on the actual amount of residual waste they generate.
Collaboration with Sartori Ambiente
To effectively implement the PAYT model, Teramo Ambiente relied on our solutions. New Urba household containers equipped with UHF RFID TAGs were distributed, allowing for traceability of waste disposals and accurate measurement of waste generated by each household.
Collection and Measurement Methods
The system uses dedicated containers for residual urban waste, each equipped with RFID TAGs. Users are required to place these containers out for collection according to a defined schedule. This enables the automatic registration of each emptying event, which is used to calculate the variable portion of the waste tariff.
Results Achieved
After nearly two months of implementation, the data show:
- Waste reduction: approx. 100 tons per month less residual waste compared to the same period the previous year
- Increase in separate collection rate: from 77% in March 2024 to 80% in March 2025
- Growth in recyclable fractions: 25 more tons of cardboard and 50 more tons of plastic-metals collected compared to the same period last year
These results confirm the system’s effectiveness and reflect the citizens’ commitment to adopting responsible waste disposal behaviors.
Benefits
The reduction in residual waste has led to an estimated monthly savings of €18,000 in disposal costs.
The introduction of PAYT and smart containers aims to:
- Encourage virtuous behaviors by rewarding users who generate less residual waste
- Improve the quality of separate collection by reducing contamination in recyclables
- Optimize service management costs through more efficient and targeted collection
Communication and Citizen Support
To ease the transition, new container distribution points were activated, along with information campaigns to explain how the system works. A support service is also available to answer questions and assist users in adapting to the new collection model.
Conclusions
Teramo stands out as a virtuous example of urban waste management, adopting innovative solutions that combine technology and sustainability. The collaboration with Sartori Ambiente and the launch of the PAYT system mark important steps toward a more environmentally conscious and responsible future.
For more information, please visit the official Differenziata Teramo website.