Waste management and the bin area in a condominium

The area for bins and waste collection is a common part of the condominium, whose use, cleaning and appearance fall among the matters managed by the manager under Articles 1117 and 1130 of the Italian Civil Code. The disposal rules follow the municipality's regulation on separate collection, while the waste tax (TARI) is owed by the individual occupants based on floor area and must not be confused with the condominium costs of cleaning and sanitising the area.

The waste area is a common part

The room or space where the bins, recycling containers or internal collection points are located is intended for common use and falls among the common parts of Article 1117 of the Italian Civil Code. It follows that the maintenance, cleaning and appearance of that space are borne by the condominium and must be organised by the manager, who must also regulate its correct use by owners.

The municipality's rules on separate collection

Waste disposal follows the municipal regulation and the local separate-collection calendar. The condominium must comply with the arrangements set by the service operator, which vary from municipality to municipality. Incorrect use, such as disposal on the wrong days or in the wrong containers, can lead to penalties and disruptions that fall on the whole building.

• Respect the exposure days and times set by the municipality.
• Separate the fractions correctly: paper, plastic, glass, organic, general waste.
• Do not leave bulky waste outside the containers.
• Keep containers clean and closed to avoid odours and animals.

TARI: who pays it and how it is calculated

TARI, the waste tax, is owed by those who occupy or hold the premises, that is the owner or the tenant depending on the case, and is calculated by the municipality based on floor area and the number of occupants. It is not a condominium expense shared by the manager, but an individual tax: each owner pays it directly to the municipality for their own unit. Common parts may have their own share in the cases provided by the municipal regulation.

Cleaning and sanitising the area: who pays

Different from TARI is the condominium cost of cleaning, washing and sanitising the bin area, plus moving the bins if entrusted to a worker. This cost is a typical running cost of the common parts and is shared among owners according to the general ownership thousandths, under Article 1123, first paragraph, unless the contractual rules provide a different criterion linked to use.

Appearance, hygiene and preventing conflict

A poorly managed waste area is a frequent cause of condominium disputes and of decay of the appearance protected by Articles 1120 and 1122 of the Italian Civil Code. Clear signs, an adequate number of containers, a sheltered location and regular cleaning reduce nuisance. The condominium rules may set use provisions and the manager may recall owners who do not respect the disposal rules.

Moving bins and support service

In many condominiums, putting the bins out and bringing them back on collection days is entrusted to the caretaker or a company. This service too is a running cost shared by thousandths or by use, and should be formalised to avoid uncertainty over responsibilities. Defining who does what prevents containers from being left in the street or blocking passage.

Separating taxes and common costs without errors

Correctly separating the individual TARI from the common costs of cleaning the waste area is essential for a clear statement. Management software such as AmministraPro helps record cleaning contracts, share common costs according to the correct table and keep track of works on the bin area, without confusing the entries. The features are shown on the /funzioni page and the plans with costs are on /prezzi.