The things non-Italians are fascinated by when in Italy always fascinate me, and let me tell you that I have been living in Italy all my life and I still haven’t fully got the Italian recycling system. Also ‘cause - guess what - it’s different in EVERY REGION!!
I appreciate that here in France where I live currently it’s simply: clean recycling materials / dirty inedible stuff / compost, and that’s it. Makes the bins infinitely easier and I don’t have like 5 different little trashcans around the apartment like I did in Bologna.
That was an enjoyable and highly specific look at an aspect of Italian life! In Los Angeles (well, technically Glendale), CA, we have two bins in our apartment building: Trash and recycling. There five flyers near the blue recycling bin explaining what can go in there.
Regarding cappuccino rules, is it something like no cappuccino after 3pm? Coffee rules fascinate me.
Milk after lunch is supposed to be bad for your digestion. The caffeine is definitely not the problem. It’s very usual to have an espresso at 10pm after dinner.
"Everyone in town seemed to be connected to a cosmic grapevine that tracked our movements with uncanny precision." Now you know the secret of living in such a small town. They know more about you than you do yourself.
This made me giggle! We have a very similar system in Malta, but many don’t give two hoots about the rules (which drives me up the wall). Glad to see all is falling into place chez the Familias!
Love! I'm always so impressed with how Italy ( Piemonte) handles garbage. It's less expensive and more organized than here in Germany. We have the 2ce a week pick up for indifferentiated in Italy whereas here it's once every 2 weeks. Also the recycle place is SUPER clean and organized with this guy who takes no prisoners running it. We have the small bags that change colors every year. And everyone does the right thing. I love your stories about your beloved Narni. Your place 🧡🧡🧡
Garbage is a bit of a blood sport in Amsterdam. If cardboard boxes that have your name and/or address on them somehow end up outside the recycling bin, they’ll hunt you down and give you a fine. Which results in people sometimes removing other people’s cardboard from a full bin so they can put in their own. And all the new international arrivals warning each other to take off all address labels and bar codes before recycling. Same thing with bicycles! People will remove yours from a rack so they can park theirs, and then yours is the one that gets impounded by the city.
It's easy to obsess about the garbage! I live in an apartment building, so we have general bins for everything except indifferenziato, so I don't have to think about the days unless I'm staying with my family (who live in a house). But it throws me when I go to a different city, and they have different rules about what is recycled with what - we do metal and glass together, for instance.
Something I learned from experiencing other ways of garbage'ing, is that Italians are often neutral-good when it comes to throwing things away. In Dungeons and Dragons speak, it means that those who follow all the rules, diligently, would be lawful-good. But we're not like that. We're not chaotic either. We don't differentiate our recycling and then leave it out on the wrong day. We put it in the right bin belonging to someone else. We have good principles but the execution... eeeehhhhhhhh
What an insightful analysis! Maybe I’m getting closer to being Italian, then. Now I’m dying to see a D&D chart of different nationalities and their modes of “garbage’ing.”
The struggle is real! And you’re right, it’s such a localised system. Just because you’re good at garbage in one Italian city doesn’t mean the town next door won’t throw you.
Love, love, love the garbage stories! Only someone who has been in Italy for a while can understand.
I’m glad it’s relatable! I could not believe how many words I was able to produce on this topic. It’s unreal.
The things non-Italians are fascinated by when in Italy always fascinate me, and let me tell you that I have been living in Italy all my life and I still haven’t fully got the Italian recycling system. Also ‘cause - guess what - it’s different in EVERY REGION!!
I appreciate that here in France where I live currently it’s simply: clean recycling materials / dirty inedible stuff / compost, and that’s it. Makes the bins infinitely easier and I don’t have like 5 different little trashcans around the apartment like I did in Bologna.
Yes, we have definitely been strategising over where we’re going to keep all those bins!
That was an enjoyable and highly specific look at an aspect of Italian life! In Los Angeles (well, technically Glendale), CA, we have two bins in our apartment building: Trash and recycling. There five flyers near the blue recycling bin explaining what can go in there.
Regarding cappuccino rules, is it something like no cappuccino after 3pm? Coffee rules fascinate me.
Glad you enjoyed! In general, Italians don’t approve of cappuccinos after lunch. Only espressos allowed!
Interesting! Is the presence of milk associated with breakfast or morning? The caffeine isn't the issue. Are afternoons just supposed to be faster?
Milk after lunch is supposed to be bad for your digestion. The caffeine is definitely not the problem. It’s very usual to have an espresso at 10pm after dinner.
Thanks! I think I agree with the Italians about the digestion.
Italian Garbage Criminal.... You can't beat that title.
Embarrassing, but accurate.
"Everyone in town seemed to be connected to a cosmic grapevine that tracked our movements with uncanny precision." Now you know the secret of living in such a small town. They know more about you than you do yourself.
Living in a city neighbourhood where people are constantly moving in and out, I think I appreciate the small-town way more than I used to.
This made me giggle! We have a very similar system in Malta, but many don’t give two hoots about the rules (which drives me up the wall). Glad to see all is falling into place chez the Familias!
Thanks, yes, we got so much done this trip! We want it to be comfortable so our kids enjoy Christmas there and keep wanting to visit us.
Love! I'm always so impressed with how Italy ( Piemonte) handles garbage. It's less expensive and more organized than here in Germany. We have the 2ce a week pick up for indifferentiated in Italy whereas here it's once every 2 weeks. Also the recycle place is SUPER clean and organized with this guy who takes no prisoners running it. We have the small bags that change colors every year. And everyone does the right thing. I love your stories about your beloved Narni. Your place 🧡🧡🧡
This sounds so German 😂😂😂 we have a group responsibile for enforcement of such things. It's called the Ordnungsamt. The Order Police. 🤣
Hahaha, that’s amazing! I feel like a lot of Dutch people are unofficial members of the order police. Social policing is a favoured hobby here.
Garbage is a bit of a blood sport in Amsterdam. If cardboard boxes that have your name and/or address on them somehow end up outside the recycling bin, they’ll hunt you down and give you a fine. Which results in people sometimes removing other people’s cardboard from a full bin so they can put in their own. And all the new international arrivals warning each other to take off all address labels and bar codes before recycling. Same thing with bicycles! People will remove yours from a rack so they can park theirs, and then yours is the one that gets impounded by the city.
It's easy to obsess about the garbage! I live in an apartment building, so we have general bins for everything except indifferenziato, so I don't have to think about the days unless I'm staying with my family (who live in a house). But it throws me when I go to a different city, and they have different rules about what is recycled with what - we do metal and glass together, for instance.
Something I learned from experiencing other ways of garbage'ing, is that Italians are often neutral-good when it comes to throwing things away. In Dungeons and Dragons speak, it means that those who follow all the rules, diligently, would be lawful-good. But we're not like that. We're not chaotic either. We don't differentiate our recycling and then leave it out on the wrong day. We put it in the right bin belonging to someone else. We have good principles but the execution... eeeehhhhhhhh
What an insightful analysis! Maybe I’m getting closer to being Italian, then. Now I’m dying to see a D&D chart of different nationalities and their modes of “garbage’ing.”
I'll work on it during my next boring meeting
I really want to come and see where you will be living. Always keep in touch . Love you and hugs 🤗
I’d love to host you once we have enough beds!
The struggle is real! And you’re right, it’s such a localised system. Just because you’re good at garbage in one Italian city doesn’t mean the town next door won’t throw you.