Rome

Motivation and concept
The Rome implementation aims at improving and optimizing waste collection and reverse logistics. It pursues two joint objectives: Increase recycling Reduce transport negative externalities The Rome implementation is an innovative system for integrating direct and reverse logistic flows in urban areas. The main idea is to involve Poste Italiane, the national postal operator, already delivering mail/parcels all around the city, in the collection of recycled materials during the same transportation route and using electric vehicles. The innovation lies in the integration of the existing frequent distribution system (i.e. mail delivery), with free capacity on return trips, and the recycling of urban waste. The proposed solution will foster the practical deployment of the EU circular economy strategy by providing an efficient city logistics system to collect recycled urban waste thus minimising road congestion and polluting emissions while increasing freight vehicle load factors.

Implementation status and next steps
The implementation in Rome deals with integration of direct and reverse flows, which is an area where very little has been done until now. In order to achieve our aims, the Living Lab partners have decided to perform several Living Lab cycles starting from a small-scale implementation later to be up-scaled. The first cycle, now completed, was a small-scale implementation considering a specific material (i.e. plastic bottle caps) and covering a relatively small area (around 1 square km, involving four department buildings of the University of Roma Tre). The implementation proved the tested service to be technically feasible and environmentally sustainable although not financially profitable. The deployed implementation is extremely useful for future developments since it provides a real case experience that can be used as an example for future extensions both geographically and with respect to the materials recycled. The second cycle will explore the opportunity to: Extend the implementation in terms of flows involved, sites and alternative waste recycled Include it in the actual logistics process for urban waste management of the city of Rome according to the recently passed Directives 2016-2021 for the future governance of the city of Rome.
Further details: Innovative Solutions for Urban Freight Transport and Environment in the Circular Economy Era, 20 October 2017, Rome
Last update: 23 October 2017
Cartoon illustrating the concept

Rome_cartoon

Cartoon produced by: Matt Sloe Link to full-size cartoon