Italian Politician on Naples: ‘It’s Worse Than Kabul’

Travel Blog • Eva Holland • 01.10.08 | 9:23 AM ET

Six months after the U.S. Embassy in Italy issued a travel advisory over mounting garbage in Naples, the Italian city is taking decisive action. Or at least, it’s taking action. According to Reuters, a new “trash tsar” has been appointed to clean up the streets—literally. But considering that the latest appointment is one in a series of tsar-ships that began in 1994, when Naples first declared a state of emergency that has never been lifted, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.

Meanwhile, Naples’ trash crisis continues. On Wednesday, residents barricaded a suburb to prevent garbage from being dumped there and clashed overnight with police. It’s estimated that over 100,000 tons of garbage are rotting in the streets of Naples and the surrounding region.