Port Waste Management

The sustainable management of waste, generated both on land and at sea, is a long-standing top priority of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority’s environmental policies.

Port Land Waste Management
Land waste management at the Ports of Genoa comprises the provision of the following key services:

• Waste collection, removal and disposal and/or recycling across the Ports of Genoa, Prà, Savona and Vado-Ligure;
• Road and yard cleaning services, and all common user areas;
• Services connected to environmental hygiene.

In a bid to boost recycling, measures are undertaken to develop best practices in waste management, in compliance with the principles of the circular economy. In addition, steps are taken to prevent illegal dumping by waste monitoring and by raising public awareness.

Port Water Waste Management:
Port water cleaning services are provided by specialised companies to monitor and remove pollutants from the seawater at the Port of Genoa, including the basins of Pra’ and Multedo-Sestri Ponente, with a focus on the collection and disposal of all types of solid and semi-solid waste, comprising oil spills, with an immediate response strategy tiered in the event of major accidental discharges.

Over the three-year 2021-2023 period and at the beginning of 2024, plastic and wood constituted the major fraction of solid waste composition in the following areas: Genoa’s Port and Fiera approach channel, Ponte Caracciolo, Calata San Benigno, Multedo Oil Terminal, (with additional barges and tugs and specialised equipment on-site), Levante Breakwater and at exit of the Port of Prà.

Ship-Generated Waste
The Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, in accordance with its environmental policy guidelines, provides for all ship-generated waster at the Ports of Genoa, Pra’, Savona and Vado Ligure.

The technical specifications of the cleaning services offered are outlined in the “Ship-generated and Cargo Residues Waste Management Plan, published by the Port Authority", in compliance with the Law Decree 197/2021, updated by Law Decree 46/2024.

Legislation in force requires ships to discharge all waste produced on-board at the treatment facilities sited in the port of destination to guarantee, in the common interest, the protection and preservation of the marine environment. Furthermore, the Port Authority organises public awareness campaigns across the port community, to reduce the risks of pollution caused by waste discharge into the sea, and promotes the sustainable collection, removal, recycling and disposal of all ship-generated waste.

The plan integrates the Port Authority governance tools at the disposal of the Port Authority to protect the environment and the health of workers and citizens from the negative impact of port activities. In addition, the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado fully support the national programme to maximise recycling operations and apply the principles of the circular economy, in compliance with recent environmental legislation.

Ports os Genoa and Pra’
Ship-generated solid and liquid waste disposal is currently provided by a selection of seven authorised companies, offering a high quality service at competitive rates.

• A.O.C. (Antipollution Operative Center) S.r.l.
• GE.AM S.p.A.
• Giuseppe Santoro S.r.l.
• Oromare S.p.A.
• Servizi Ecologici Porto di Genova S.p.A.
• Ecologital Maneco
• Ricupoil S.r.l.

Specifically, the Port of Genoa features two treatment and storage facilities for hazardous and non-hazardous waste and a waste compactor, often also used by the local waste collection and disposal company AMIU.

Porti di Savona - Vado Ligure

• S.V. Port Service S.r.l.