I rifiuti: problema o risorsa secondo la normativa italiana?

This contribution addresses the theme of the Circular Economy and waste management in Italy by examining the types and volume of substances produced annually within the national territory, focusing on special waste generated from construction and demolition (C&D) activities. The article then delves into the reconstruction of the current regulatory framework. It undertakes a study of the norms and regulations that lead to the definition of waste and by-products, followed by an illustration of recovery, recycling, and reuse operations. These operations follow a specific “Testo Unico Ambiente” (TUA) procedure that allows waste to lose its status and assume it is End-of-Waste. This work aims to provide a picture of waste classification and manage ment procedures, highlighting the critical issues of the Italian context and proposing improvement solutions. Concerning C&D waste, the paper explores the Italian instruments designed to support the use of Second ary Raw Materials (MPS) in production cycles, with a specific analysis of the End-of-Waste (EoW) procedure and Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM). What emerges from the critical re-reading is the need to overcome the current inefficiencies in MPS flows and promote a more efficient Circular Economy by implementing policies and tools that incentivise the recovery and reuse of materials.