Smelly garbage trucks circulate around the city, carrying bacteria inside their bodies that release nauseating odors. This phenomenon is the subject of constant reports from residents of Porto Torres. The Porto Torres Avanti autonomist movement, the majority group, has collected these reports. "It's not just a question of decorum. We're talking about urban hygiene, quality of service, workers' working conditions, and compliance with contractual obligations," says Bastianino Spanu, coordinator of the movement. The trucks pass through neighborhoods, residential areas, the city center, and the waterfront every day. The problem becomes even more evident in the busiest areas, when residents, families, tourists, and visitors spend time outdoors, in bars, restaurants, and public spaces. "The same attention must be guaranteed in every neighborhood and every area of the city," observes Spanu, who also raises the issue of the workers who perform the service every day. "Operators spend many hours in direct contact with the vehicles and the collected waste and must be able to carry out their work in suitable conditions, using clean, efficient, and properly maintained vehicles. Compliance with washing and disinfection procedures, therefore, is not only a matter of citizens and urban decorum, but also represents a form of protection for those who provide an essential service to the city on a daily basis." The Special Procurement Specifications of the Municipality of Porto Torres contain clear rules to be followed. Article 30 specifies in black and white that the vehicles must be maintained in efficient and presentable condition, and the operator must ensure washing and disinfection at least weekly. The same specifications grant the Municipality the right to carry out quality and suitability checks on the vehicles and also stipulate that, if the washing is performed by an external provider, documentation proving that the vehicles used for the service have been washed must be produced monthly. "For this reason, I believe it is necessary to promptly verify the regularity of washing and disinfection operations, the actual condition of the vehicles, and any critical issues that could cause unpleasant odors, liquid leaks, or other situations incompatible with the required standards. It's not enough to simply collect waste," Spanu emphasizes. "The service must be performed while ensuring the hygiene, environmental, and quality standards set forth in the contract, while simultaneously protecting the Administration, residents, and workers." For the Porto Torres Avanti group, "the city must be cared for and respected in every part: in the neighborhoods, on the outskirts, in the center, and along the waterfront." Particular attention must also be paid to the busiest areas, where the quality of the urban environment directly impacts hospitality, catering, commercial activities, and the city's tourist image. "The operator must guarantee the provisions of the contract, and the Municipality must promptly verify compliance. This is a protection owed to the citizens, businesses, and workers who perform the service every day."
the complaint