Marina di Villasimius wins refuse, recycling and management award

Italy’s most virtuous tourist marinas were in the spotlight at the recent 2015 Milan Expo on 8^th June during an awards ceremony in the Sala dei 100 (the Hall of the 100), where the port with the best refuse recycling and management record was given special recognition.

The winner was Sardinia-based Marina di Villasimius, which was chosen from a field of 100 tourist harbors participating in the ‘Cobat and the Sea’ project, promoted by Leonardo Multmedia in collaboration with the National Consortium for Waste Collection and Recycling (Cobat) and the Legambiente environmental association.

The competition was judged by a jury which included Leonardo Marotto (an expert on evaluating environmental impacts, urban ecology and the interdisciplinary management of coastlines as well as head of the Scientific Council at the Italian Association of Environmental Sciences), Jacopo Agussi (a marine biologist at Barcelona’s Ciències del Mar institute), and was chaired by TV producer Enzo Biassoni.

Enzo commented, “I love the sea and believe it must be protected. Italian marinas, as well as the tourists themselves, can and must play a greater role to preserve the coastline.’’

Giancarlo Morandi, chairman of Cobat said, “The excellence Cobat has demonstrated in 25 years of managing and recycling technological refuse is available to all institutions and companies who support sustainable growth in Italy. Through its commitment and professionalism, the Villasimius Marina has created a virtuous reality in an important tourism sector like marinas.”

The quality of services the marinas offer visitors was also taken into consideration by the judges. Representing Sardinia at the ceremony were Marinedi CEO, Renato Marconi, Villasimius Marina director, Amedeo Ferrigno and Paolo Casertano.

During the ceremony, it was confirmed that the ‘Cobat and the Sea’ project will continue in the coming years in order to monitor improvements at the participating marinas. The aim of the initiative is to offer marinas incentives for the development and growth, with the support of Cobat and Legambiente, and to encourage new ideas and projects from Italian university students and researchers.

For more information, visit Marina di Villasimius.