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Padua’s Piazza dei Signori to become Italy’s first “circular square”
City square Piazza dei Signori in the Italian city of Padua will be home to a new green initiative this spring which is meant to make the city more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Starting May 20, several venues located there will begin experimenting with a new deposit system for the purchase of take-away drinks, replacing the conventional disposable cups which are harmful to the environment in numerous ways.
Mayor of Padua Sergio Giordani stated on social media: ‘’Reusable cups have arrived in Piazza dei Signori! As of 20 May, the 12 venues will be part of a unique circuit with reusable takeaway cups on a €1 refundable deposit in all participating venues, thus making Piazza dei Signori the first ‘Circular Square’ in Italy”.
The effects of this plastic waste on the environment and our health, according to the European Commission, are global and can be severe. Single-use plastic products are more likely than reusable alternatives to end up in our oceans, creating a whole range of serious negative consequences. The European Union also aspires to be a global leader in the fight against marine litter and plastic waste.
‘’An experiment from which a model can be created that can also be extended to other areas of the city. Let us thus replace disposable cups by eliminating the production of this waste at the root. Let us combine social life with care for the environment and urban decorum,’’ mayor Giordani further stated.
‘’Thanks to APPE Padova – Provincial Association of Public Businesses which promoted the project with us, to all participating merchants and to the councilors Antonio Bressa, Chiara Gallani and Diego Bonavina Councilor of the Municipality of Padua who made this initiative possible,’’ mayor Giordani added. (photo credit: wikimedia)
