Cinisello Balsamo Secures Waste Management Continuity, Eyes Metropolitan Collaboration – Breaking News
Cinisello Balsamo, a municipality in the Milanese hinterland, has moved to ensure uninterrupted waste collection and disposal services by extending its contract with Nord Milano Ambiente SpA. This decision, announced today, comes as the city simultaneously explores a broader, more efficient regional approach to urban hygiene, sparking debate about current service levels and future costs. This is a developing story, optimized for Google News and SEO to deliver the latest updates quickly.
Contract Extension: A Bridge to a Larger Vision
The City Council approved the extension of the existing assignment to Nord Milano Ambiente SpA, a fully publicly-owned company, to cover the period until a new, long-term management structure is established. The current contract was set to expire on December 31, 2025. Officials cite the “technical, organizational, and regulatory complexity” of transitioning to a new system as the primary reason for the extension. The move guarantees continuity for residents while the city navigates a significant shift in its waste management strategy.
Metropolitan Aggregation: The Long-Term Goal
This extension isn’t simply about maintaining the status quo. Cinisello Balsamo is actively pursuing a strategic path towards territorial aggregation on a metropolitan scale. The aim? To maximize service quality, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. A key partner in this endeavor is Cap Evolution srl, a company also wholly owned by public entities, including the municipality itself through its stake in Cap Holding spa – the current operator of the city’s water service. This collaboration seeks to integrate public waste management entities across the Milanese hinterland, leveraging economies of scale and shared resources.
A Look at the Numbers
Nord Milano Ambiente SpA is valued at approximately €7.6 million, including €4.04 million for land and buildings. An ongoing assessment, in collaboration with the Revenue Agency, is expected to finalize this valuation by February 2026. The city launched an exploratory public notice in August 2024, seeking expressions of interest from fully public-controlled companies. Only one eligible proposal was received – from Cap Holding spa – and preliminary activities for awarding the service and maximizing municipal participation are already underway.
Regulatory Hurdles and Timelines
The transition isn’t without its challenges. The upcoming shift to the MTR-3 regulatory period (2026-2029) from ARERA, Italy’s regulatory authority for energy, water, and waste, will significantly impact service quality standards and associated costs. Interested operators were asked to submit technical and economic proposals by November 10, 2025, and the process is now focused on preparing the necessary documentation for the service award and valuation of municipal participation.
Democratic Party Raises Concerns About Service Quality
While the administration touts the long-term benefits of this strategic shift, the Democratic Party of Cinisello Balsamo has voiced strong concerns. Group leader Marco Tarantola criticized what they perceive as a decline in service quality, citing increasing levels of dirtiness in the city, a separate waste collection rate hovering around 60%, and continued increases in the local waste tax (TARI). The PD is calling for a final decision by June 30, 2026, accompanied by a concrete modernization plan and greater transparency through the involvement of both political bodies and citizens. They specifically request attention be given to street sweeping, boosting separate waste collection, addressing illegal dumping, and controlling costs.
Mayor Giacomo Ghilardi defended the decision, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions to improve service standards and efficiency throughout the entire collection chain. He believes this strategic approach will ultimately deliver higher quality services to residents.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Stay tuned to Archyde for the latest developments in Cinisello Balsamo’s waste management transformation and for in-depth coverage of local government initiatives impacting your community. For more on sustainable waste management practices and the future of urban hygiene, explore our dedicated Sustainability section.
