Two weeks’ worth of garbage has piled up in cities in the southern region of Campania, and the crisis has caused the closure of schools and markets and the possible closure of government offices. The mayor of Aversa appealed to the army to step in, angry residents have been burning garbage on the outskirts of towns and protesters blocked the main rail line between Naples and Rome. The problem stems from the inability of municipalities in Campania, Italy’s most densely populated region, to dispose of their garbage without assistance from companies controlled by the Camorra mafia, the main crime operation in the region. The mafia isn’t cooperating during the crisis as a way to force companies to use their services. Authorities worry that the approaching tourist season could be damaged if the mess isn’t cleaned up soon.
