Rome has demanded that many of the surrounding communities take on some of the city’s excess rubbish, in what Zingaretti described as an "arrogant" act.
"The idea that you can go forward saying, 'in any case, we'll send the rubbish to other towns', is not only technically complex but also unfeasible because the European Union is watching and saying that you have to treat trash in the places where it is produced," Zingaretti added.
Referring to Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi's vow to reach 70 per cent recycling by 2022, Zingaretti stressed that there is still a need to address the other 30 per cent that has to be processed and disposed of.
Rome is currently enduring the latest in a string of rubbish emergencies.
Critics have argued that the problem stems from Raggi's alleged inaction since taking over as Rome's first female mayor almost a year ago.
Raggi, a member of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S), has blamed past administrations of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) for the crisis.
Around 1000 volunteers from the PD turned out in yellow t-shirts to clear up the capital’s current mess on Sunday.
With ANSA
