Consulting and Training Safety, Occupational Medicine, Management Systems, Quality, Privacy, Environment and Organizational Models

Waste Form: Compilation and Regulations

The Waste Loading and Unloading Register is the environmental document in which all waste loadings and unloadings at the production site must be recorded. The current register format is defined by Ministerial Decree No. 148 of April 1, 1998.

Growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable waste management have led to the creation of a waste management course. This course provides a detailed overview of modern practices for managing, recycling, and disposing of waste, addressing current challenges and offering innovative solutions. It is an essential training opportunity for those seeking to specialize in this critical sector and actively contribute to protecting our planet.

The validation of waste loading and unloading registers must be carried out by the territorially competent Chamber of Commerce.

The Waste Identification Form (FIR) is the document that accompanies the transportation of waste, as defined by Ministerial Decree No. 145 of April 1, 1998. It consists of four copies:

  • The first is delivered to the waste producer when the waste is collected.
  • The second is retained by the transporter’s destination facility.
  • The third remains with the company transporting the waste.
  • The fourth is returned to the producer to certify the proper disposal of the waste.

To ensure transparent and compliant environmental administration, these documents are essential and valid nationwide. Employers of companies generating waste from industrial activities must have them readily available and correctly maintained to protect the environment and comply with waste management regulations. This avoids potential administrative and criminal penalties resulting from inspections by supervisory and regulatory bodies. These documents will remain in use until the implementation decrees of the new discipline introduced by Legislative Decree No. 116/2020, which will activate the Electronic Waste Traceability Register. They are also currently indispensable for complying with the obligation to submit the Environmental Declaration Form (MUD) in a specific format to the competent Chamber of Commerce. This declaration, the responsibility of the company’s legal representative, communicates the quantities of waste produced and disposed of in industrial activities. It is fundamental for waste traceability, helping prevent environmental crimes, which are often sources of pollution and socially significant disasters.

Proper use of the waste management form enables companies to monitor and optimize disposal processes, identifying strategies to reduce waste. This approach supports more sustainable practices while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Environmental Declaration Form (MUD)

The MUD must be submitted annually, generally by April 30, by the following categories:

  • Professional waste collection and transportation operators;
  • Waste traders and brokers without storage facilities;
  • Companies and entities conducting waste recovery and disposal operations;
  • Initial producers of hazardous special waste;
  • Agricultural businesses producing hazardous waste with annual revenues exceeding €8,000;
  • Companies and entities with more than ten employees producing non-hazardous waste from industrial or craft activities, or from recovery and disposal operations, including sludge from water treatment, purification, and smoke treatment processes.

Entities Exempt from Submitting MUD (for non-hazardous waste only):

  • Entities transporting their non-hazardous waste for personal purposes;
  • Companies and entities with ten or fewer employees producing non-hazardous waste from:
    • Industrial processing;
    • Craft processing;
    • Sludge from water treatment or purification;
    • Demolition or construction activities (non-hazardous waste only);
    • Commercial or service activities (non-hazardous waste only).

Waste Traceability and the Waste Identification Form

The Waste Identification Form (FIR) is fundamental for waste traceability and applies nationwide. It ensures all stages of waste management—from production to disposal—are documented transparently and comprehensively. Legislative Decree No. 116/2020 introduced changes to its use, requiring detailed information about the waste, its journey, and compliance with authorized disposal requirements.

The FIR must:

  • Be completed in four copies;
  • Be signed and dated by the producer or holder of the waste and the transporter;
  • Have one copy retained by the producer, one by the transporter, and two by the authorized disposal facility.

Digital Validation and the Vi.Vi.FIR System

As of March 8, 2021, the Vi.Vi.FIR system enables digital validation of waste forms, eliminating the need for physical validation at Chamber of Commerce offices. The system allows businesses to autonomously generate waste forms, significantly saving time and costs. Access to the Vi.Vi.FIR system is available through:

  • The dedicated portal (vivifir.ecocamere.it);
  • Software systems used by companies for managing waste documentation.

The generated forms include a unique identification number and a QR code for enhanced traceability. This innovation is part of the broader regulatory updates to simplify and modernize waste management documentation while maintaining compliance with Legislative Decree No. 152/2006.