Application of Risk Analysis to landfills: the experience of Brescia (Italy)

In the Italian authorization procedure for the construction of a landfill, the Risk Analysis is mandatory in case of request for derogation from the current legislation (D.M. September 27, 2010), in order to demonstrate that there is no risk for the environment. This contribution describes the experience of the Province of Brescia, public body responsible for managing applications for landfill authorization, and its collaboration with the University of Brescia for the specific activity of risk analysis applied to landfills. After a reference to the current national legislation and a summary of the technical documents available for the topic (guidelines and instructions drawn up by technical bodies), the technical-preliminary approach applied by the Province of Brescia is outlined. This is complemented by a detailed description of the methodological approach followed for the evaluation of Risk Analysis documents, of the critical aspects and of the experience gained in several administrative procedures aimed at issuing authorizations. Finally, some issues emerged within a technical task-force, involving Lombardy Region and its provinces, that has the aim to coordinate the administrative action on waste sector, are introduced. The specific aim is to draw up a regional regulation on the Risk Analysis applied to landfills.