I always recycle packaging.
im-bal-LAD-ji — stress the third syllable; the 'g' before 'i' makes a 'j' sound.
Use this to describe your recycling habits. It is a useful conversation starter about environmental practices and a common topic in Italian schools, workplaces, and neighbourhood chats.
Imballaggi (packaging) is the collective term for all types of packaging — plastic, glass, paper, metal, and composite. Italy's CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) manages packaging recovery and recycling. Italy has consistently exceeded EU recycling targets for packaging.
Separo sempre carta, plastica e vetro.
I always separate paper, plastics, and glass.
More specific breakdown of what gets recycled.
Cerco di comprare prodotti con meno imballaggio.
I try to buy products with less packaging.
Goes beyond recycling to waste reduction; reflects zero-waste thinking.
Il supermercato accetta le buste di plastica usate.
The supermarket accepts used plastic bags.
Refers to in-store recycling points for soft plastics, growing in Italian supermarkets.
CONAI operates the national packaging recovery scheme and funds recycling infrastructure through levies on packaging producers. Italy recovers over 70% of all packaging waste — above the EU average — driven partly by CONAI's funding of municipalities and partly by Italian cultural pride in the raccolta differenziata system.