Every year, Italy produces and imports a vast number of pyrotechnic items: from the fireworks that light up our parties to the signaling devices essential for safety at sea or in the mountains. But what happens to these materials once they reach the end of their life, or worse, when they are seized because they are illegal or dangerous? Their management represents a complex challenge, which intersects environmental protection and public safety. And this is precisely where CoGePir, the Pyrotechnic Management Consortium, comes into play, now recognized by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as the official system for the management of this special waste.
The crucial role of CoGePir: from voluntary consortium to public function
With the Ministerial Decree of 2 February 2026 n. 32, MASE has officially elevated CoGePir from a voluntary consortium to a private law entity with a well-defined public function. This recognition establishes its unique position in the Italian panorama: CoGePir is in fact the only body to deal in a structured way with the collection and disposal of pyrotechnic articles (whether for signaling, rescue, safety or entertainment) when these become to all intents and purposes exploding waste. This happens in two main scenarios: following their natural expiry or after a seizure by the police, followed by a destruction order issued by the judicial authority.
Founded by the main producers and importers in the sector, CoGePir was created to fulfill the obligations set out in the Interministerial Decree of 12 May 2016 n. 101. Its operations are part of a peculiar regulatory context, which sees it respond simultaneously to two primary and complex regulations: the Consolidated Environmental Law (TUA) and the Consolidated Law on Public Safety (TULPS). This double regulatory oversight requires not only high technical skills and specific authorizations, but also an extremely structured logistics and disposal chain, capable of guaranteeing the highest levels of safety, legality and, naturally, environmental protection.
A mandatory system for traceability and sustainability
Membership of the CoGePir system is not optional, but mandatory for all producers and importers who introduce pyrotechnic articles on the Italian market. This condition is fundamental to ensure complete traceability of products throughout their life cycle and, above all, correct management at their end. From a circular economy and environmental sustainability perspective, the responsible management of devices with high risk potential is an indispensable step for the protection of the environment and, in parallel, public safety.
The commitment is growing: over 51 tons of pyrotechnic waste managed in 2025
The numbers demonstrate the growing importance of CoGePir’s work. In 2025, the consortium collected and sent for destruction 51,426 kg of end-of-life pyrotechnic devices. A significant figure, which highlights an increase compared to the 48,745 kg in 2024 and the 39,943 kg in 2023. This constant growth reflects not only the effectiveness of the system, but also greater awareness and adherence by operators.
CoGePir’s management is not limited to show fireworks alone. It concerns a wide range of pyrotechnic products used in different fields: nautical, railway, professional, security and, obviously, for events and shows. All materials whose disposal cannot in any way take place through ordinary channels, given their explosive nature and potential danger.
The consortium system guarantees a safe and controlled process at every stage: from certified collection to authorized transport, up to storage in certified explosive depots and final destruction in specialized plants. A fundamental infrastructure to mitigate the risks associated with these materials.
The management of seized materials: a safeguard of legality and safety
A particularly delicate and crucial aspect of CoGePir’s activity is the management of pyrotechnic materials seized by order of the Judicial Authority. In 2025 alone, the police entrusted more than 9,265 kg of explosives to the consortium, and since the beginning of the current year (2026), 5,946 kg have been managed. To meet this need, the Consortium has made no less than one explosives depot available to the Public Security Forces for each Italian region. This ensures a controlled and safe supply chain for the judicial storage and subsequent destruction of the materials, removing sources of potential danger from circulation.
This intervention strengthens the role of CoGePir not only as an essential tool for environmental protection and the correct management of special waste, but also as a real public safety safeguard, actively contributing to the legality and prevention of accidents related to the use or improper disposal of explosives.
The recognition of CoGePir by MASE represents a significant step forward for Italy. It demonstrates how, through organization and collaboration between the public and private sectors, it is possible to address complex challenges such as the management of pyrotechnic waste. An efficient and rigorous system is the key to balancing the needs of entertainment, safety and, above all, the protection of our environment. Responsible management of these high-risk materials is a pillar for a safer and more sustainable future, a message that GreenMe is committed to spreading for greater collective awareness.
