The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean addressed the opening session of the 15th Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, held in Cagliari, Italy, on 5 October 2015, organised by the International Waste Working Group.
The PAM statement underlined that, due to the characteristics of the Mediterranean region, such as the constantly growing population, desertification processes, and the tendency of Mediterranean citizens to live in urban areas, proper waste management policies are key to minimize the negative impacts. The production of waste cannot be avoided but it can certainly be kept to a minimum by recycling and re-using parts of the waste.
PAM participation to this important event represents a further step ahead in the activities carried out by the Assembly in the field of Waste Management.
PAM has already organized a parliamentary meeting in May 2014 in Caserta, Italy. The conclusions mainly highlighted the importance of analysing and tackling the issue of waste management at the wider regional level, the need to consider waste as a resource, with benefits on the standard of living, employment and quality of the environment, and finally the crucial role of education.
In June 2015, on the occasion of the EXPO 2015 in Milan, PAM held a conference that analysed the benefits achieved from an adequate use of organic waste as nutrients in agriculture, and its positive impact on crucial sectors in the Mediterranean region, such as the protection of the environment and food security.
PAM will keep waste management on its agenda for 2016, when a follow-up meeting of the Caserta event is scheduled to take place.