The 99th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of the most famous cycling races in the world, will get under way on 6 May next from Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands. And from the following stage onwards — that of Catanzaro — throughout the entire event, all waste produced will be sorted and sent for recycling.

The Ride Green project, launched by Rcs Sport thanks to the collaboration of the Cooperativa E.r.i.c.a and Wwf — which has carried out an in-depth analysis of all aspects related to the environmental impacts of the Giro d'Italia — will thus help reduce the environmental impact of an event that will cross the entire Italian territory.

"This is a goal we have been working towards for some years now," explained Paolo Bellino, general director of Rcs Sport. "I believe the Giro d'Italia is a point of excellence for the country. We are one of the most important cycling sports events in the world, and so we are a model for the development of good practices. Being able to test techniques and projects at the Giro d'Italia and communicate them to 192 countries with 780 million viewers is something extremely important."

A Giro d'Italia where nothing (or almost nothing) will be thrown away

During the 18 stages of Italy's most famous race, dedicated areas will therefore be set up housing various collection points for sorting and separating waste. Paper, plastic, aluminium and glass will then be sent for recycling. Moreover, the organic fraction of the waste will also be collected, aided by the use of 40,000 compostable dishes that will in turn become fertile compost.

But the Giro's close relationship with the territory goes back many years, as Gaetano Benedetto, general director of Wwf, recalls. "With director Candido Cannavò there were two editions — one dedicated to exploring protected natural areas and subsequently to highlighting Italy's hydrogeological instability and soil consumption." Issues that, thanks to this event, reached every corner of the country.

Alongside the recycling project, an upcycling initiative will also be launched, in which material previously considered waste will instead find a new use. "There are materials that are not currently recyclable, such as those used for banners," said Luigi Bosio, technical director of E.r.i.c.a.. "We are evaluating collaborations with various companies that will take this material and transform it into some other product."

Spectators, schools and the teams themselves will thus be involved, all required to commit to sorting waste and reducing the environmental footprint of the refuse produced in some of Italy's most spectacular locations. The next step could be to reduce emissions further, perhaps by focusing on hybrid team cars and, why not, on electric motorbikes.