Madonna di Campiglio tackles plastic waste in the mountains with ‘Let’s Green’

In the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, the village and ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio faces growing waste management and pollution challenges due to increased tourism and consumption. “Let’s Green” tackled this problem by engaging 11 mountain huts in reducing single-use plastics, offering refillable bottles, eco-compactors, and conducting awareness-raising campaigns to effectively manage waste and encourage sustainable behaviours among visitors and locals.

Managing plastic waste in a high‑tourism mountain park

Tourism in Madonna di Campiglio, located at the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park in the Brenta Dolomites, has grown steadily over the past decade. In 2023, the destination welcomed 384,943 visitors, generating 1.5 million overnight stays and contributing over 10% to local GDP and employment.

This high influx of tourists, particularly during peak seasons, has led to significant waste management challenges. Visitors often dispose of plastic bottles and packaging irresponsibly, contributing to polluting the already fragile mountain ecosystems. As the most common type of waste found in such areas, plastic pollution infiltrates the water cycle. Microplastics can travel long distances, irreversibly contaminating snow and groundwater, and impacting biodiversity and ecosystems downstream. A “leave no trace” principle is therefore crucial to prevent environmental degradation.

Steep slopes and remote mountain huts make waste collection, transport, and recycling logistically difficult, while improper disposal affects both the natural environment and the mountain landscape, with limited data and monitoring available.

Locals and park staff in Adamello Brenta Nature Park recognised that the need to preserve pristine landscapes whilst maintaining high-quality tourism services are interconnected. They therefore undertook several activities to support a coordinated, mountain-specific approach to reducing plastic pollution.

Engaging mountain huts and visitors in waste management

Since its launch in 2021, the “Let’s Green” initiative has combined practical waste management measures with awareness-raising actions to reduce plastic pollution in Madonna di Campiglio. Eleven mountain huts have joined the project, committing to reducing single-use plastics and participating in the “Bottle to Bottle” circular initiative, which encourages the separation of waste and recycling.

Eco-compactors and recycling bins were installed in these huts to facilitate proper separation and compression of plastic waste, while reusable water bottles were sold to visitors lacking their own. The initiative also promoted the “Refill your water bottle” campaign, enabling tourists to refill bottles at huts, tourist offices, and public fountains.

Awareness-raising campaigns targeted both residents and visitors. The Destination Management Organisation and the nature park collaborated with local influencers, acting as green ambassadors, to communicate eco-friendly practices via social media. Field excursions guided by park experts engaged tourists and local communities in understanding waste separation, compaction, and recycling, reinforcing the connection between individual behaviour and environmental preservation.

Fostering circularity and eco-conscious behaviours in mountain tourism

Since its launch, Let’s Green has enabled the 11 participating mountain huts to significantly reduce single-use plastics. Indeed, three huts have already achieved full 100% Plastic Free status, while the remaining eight are actively progressing toward this goal. The eco-compactors installed across the huts are reducing plastic waste volume by 3 to 5 times compared to standard waste collection, generating 1.5 kg less CO₂ per transport journey through the “Bottle to Bottle” circular scheme.

Visitors now use refillable bottles and are more aware of sustainable practices, while local staff and Destination Management Organisation (DMO) partners gain hands-on experience in waste management. Whilst waste management challenges remain due to increasing volumes of plastic waste, the initiative strengthens environmental responsibility in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, creating a long-term culture of environmental stewardship that can be expanded to additional huts and other high-tourism mountain areas.

When combined with adequate financing, infrastructure and behavioural incentives, inclusive campaign activities can be part of a broader coordinated approach to addressing plastic pollution in mountain areas.