Press Release: Italy: Commission sends final warning of possible fines over illegal waste landfills; opens waste water case

The European Commission was pursuing legal action against Italy over breaches of EU environmental law on waste and waste water treatment. In the first case, Italy was sent a final written warning that it could face fines unless it moves rapidly to close and clean up thousands of illegal and uncontrolled waste disposal sites across the country. Italy was condemned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2007 over the sites but has yet to take adequate measures to comply with the ruling. The second case related to a failure to comply with obligations for the treatment of waste water. Some 500 towns and cities were listed as not having waste water treatment up to EU standard.