Palermo waste scandal sparks mayor’s fury: change approach or switch to private sector

Last Updated: October 5, 2023

The public nature of Rap (waste management company in Palermo, Italy) cannot be taken for granted anymore. Given the recent scandals and the poor cleaning results, the mayor is issuing an ultimatum: either change the way things are done or privatize. There is no alternative. The media disaster following the investigations on corrupt employees, the poor financial performance, the failure of the Bellolampo waste treatment plant, and the overall disaster of the government-owned companies have infuriated Mayor Roberto Lagalla. He says enough is enough. Lagalla acknowledges that the government-owned companies are a burden to the municipality, even jeopardizing the plan for financial stability due to their unstable budgets. However, he goes further and questions how a company that costs taxpayers 120 million euros can only recover less than 1.9 million euros from recycling, which is only one percent. He also questions how a company can be competitive if 101 employees evade all forms of control and responsibility. The mayor is speaking out during a council meeting, which was originally called to discuss the summer fires that have wreaked havoc on the city. This investigation once again puts Rap at the center of attention. Lagalla sees this as an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and issue an ultimatum. The council chamber is silent as Lagalla presents these shocking facts, particularly in terms of the company’s future prospects.