The scientific name is "disposophobia." Translated: domestic hobbling, that disorder that leads to a pathological accumulation of waste in one's home. And in Cagliari, apparently, it's a phenomenon so widespread as to become alarming. So much so that the Municipality, Local Health Authority, Court, and Prosecutor's Office have drawn up a memorandum of understanding to implement joint intervention strategies. The initial signature was made by Massimo Zedda's municipal council, which approved it a few days ago.
“Domestic homophobia,” it says, constitutes “a serious risk both to public health , because it causes the proliferation of bacteria and bad odors, and to safety , because it carries the risk of fire.” Consequently, “ health, social, and environmental repercussions” have been identified.
The plan is called “Knocking on the door: the invisible ones,” that is, those who fill their homes with rubbish to the point of making it unlivable, and is part of the Plus plan of the city of Cagliari for the three-year period 2026-2028.
The agreement bears the signatures of the mayor of Cagliari Massimo Zedda , the head of the ASL, the Court represented by the president Vincenzo Amato and the Public Prosecutor Rodolfo Maria Sabelli .
"Social services , the local police, the public health department and the mental health department of the local health authority, the veterinary service and the judicial authority will intervene on the field" .
Among the objectives of the agreement is the definition of "a model of integrated interventions capable of promoting the return or continued care of people affected by the disorder in their own homes . Furthermore, the aim is to protect the mental and physical health of vulnerable individuals at greater risk or affected by the disorder and to encourage, promote, and guide the proper use of the network of services to optimize available resources."
The parties undertake "to carry out specific actions . In particular, the Municipality will ensure full participation in the Technical Committee and the collaboration of its professional resources in jointly developing the necessary analysis and in-depth analysis; the sharing of necessary data and information ; the prompt activation of services by coordinating timely interventions in urban hygiene, safety, construction, and social housing assessments." The Local Health Authority undertakes to: ensure the prompt activation , for the areas under their respective jurisdiction, of its services and any support, if necessary, including during remediation operations; ensure the sharing of necessary data and information . Finally, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Court will ensure "the sharing of data and information necessary for interventions ; evaluate the reports received, promoting the activation of legal protection tools and encouraging and supporting full coordination between institutions."