Italian military to guard dump sites amid crisis

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Italian military to guard dump sites amid crisis
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, May 23, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — Italy’s new government has promised to take out Naples’ trash — and to impose stiff penalties, to include jail time, for anyone who stands in its way.

Making good on a campaign promise to focus governmental attention on the trash emergency that has buried Naples for months, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday held his first cabinet meeting here. He announced dump sites will be "military zones," guarded by Italian troops. Those who impede haulers from dumping their loads face up to five years in prison.

The government will respond to the trash crisis "exactly as if it were an emergency caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruptions," the flamboyant prime minister announced Wednesday during a press briefing held in the Royal Palace. Flanked by cabinet members and his newly selected "trash czar," Berlusconi announced a no-nonsense approach to ridding the streets of tons of uncollected refuse.

The newly formed Italian government has not officially asked for direct help from the U.S. Navy here, home to two bases and more than 6,000 sailors and families.

"We have not been asked directly for assistance by the new government," the base commander, Capt. Floyd Hehe, said. "We have, however, engaged in a constant dialogue with Italian officials since the current problems began to surface late last year. We are continuing to do our part by ensuring we properly recycle on base as well as control the level of garbage awaiting collection."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55018