Illegal Dumpsites Plague Rome: Carabinieri Forestali Report Daily Environmental Crimes
Rome, February 6, 2026 – The fight against illegal waste disposal continues to be a major challenge in Rome and the wider Lazio region. In 2025, the Carabinieri Forestali uncovered an alarming average of four environmental crimes per day, with 641 individuals reported and five arrested for offenses ranging from illegal dumping to toxic waste burning. This persistent issue, highlighted in a recent report, underscores a growing environmental emergency despite stricter penalties.
A Deep Dive into the Numbers: 9,000 Controls and 641 Denunciations
Last year, Carabinieri Forestali conducted over 9,000 checks across Rome and the Lazio provinces, leading to the identification of widespread illegal dumping. Materials found at these unauthorized sites included construction debris, old furniture, household appliances, and even medical and pharmaceutical waste. Brigadier General Gianpiero Andreatta, commander of the Lazio Carabinieri Forestali Region, presented these figures, emphasizing that illegal waste disposal remains one of the most pressing environmental concerns.
The report detailed 524 environmental crimes directly related to unauthorized waste disposal, averaging more than one per day. Additionally, 267 administrative offenses were recorded, resulting in fines exceeding 372,000 euros. These figures do not include the activities of the municipal police, suggesting the actual scale of the problem could be even larger.
Toxic Fires and Landslides: The Grave Consequences of Illegal Dumping
The problem is further exacerbated by toxic fires that often follow illegal dumping, worsening air, soil, and water pollution. Approximately 49 percent of the Carabinieri’s interventions focused on controlling the waste cycle and identifying these illegal dumpsites. Over 1,500 inspections in this area led to 116 individuals being charged with 106 crimes and approximately 100 fines totaling over 188,000 euros.
Beyond waste management, environmental protection efforts also targeted hydrogeological, landscape, and environmental constraints, as well as building regulations, logging, and extractive activities. Overall, 81,000 inspections in 2025 revealed more than 2,500 administrative offenses and 1,530 criminal offenses, marking a 5 percent increase in crimes compared to 2024. Eight arrests were made, with 1,323 denunciations among nearly 18,000 identified individuals, and almost 500 seizures, 380 of which were criminal. Fines amounted to over 1.5 million euros.
Protecting Forest Ecosystems and Wildlife
The protection of forest ecosystems also saw increased controls on regulations governing wood and undergrowth products, including the illegal collection of mushrooms and truffles. These checks resulted in 311 individuals being sanctioned and four denounced. Furthermore, 77 individuals were reported to judicial authorities for violating animal protection laws, concerning both wild animals (hunting and poaching) and domestic or farm animals. This led to 533 administrative offenses and 123 criminal offenses, with over 120,000 euros in fines.
Satellite Technology to Combat Arson and Prevent Landslides
Carabinieri Forestali are leveraging satellite technology to identify arsonists and track the paths of forest fires. This specialized skill is crucial for updating regional databases and providing certified data to municipalities, enabling them to establish and update the mandatory cadastres of burned areas. In 2025, the Carabinieri were at the forefront of investigations into numerous forest fires in Rome, its province, and across Lazio.
A total of 304 investigations focused on determining responsibility for these fires, predominantly occurring in the summer months in the provinces of Latina (149) and Frosinone (93). Thirty-one people were reported for forest fires during over 2,600 inspections, and 262 administrative offenses led to fines exceeding 70,000 euros. This also includes individuals who neglected land maintenance, contributing to fires that caused significant environmental and landscape damage. Specialized technicians utilizing the Physical Evidence Method (Mef) were instrumental in pinpointing ignition points, a critical step in identifying those responsible for setting fires.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_febbraio_06/discariche-abusive-a-roma-scoperti-4-reati-ambientali-al-giorno-buttati-in-nero-calcinacci-mobili-e-lavatrici-0cb630c5-fb38-4f8f-bc11-4825adaa3xlk.shtml
