Waste Sorting in Rome: AMA Collection Calendar and What Goes Where
Door-to-door pickup or street bins? What goes in which container? Collection schedules vary by neighbourhood — here's how to navigate Rome's recycling system using the AMA app.
In a nutshell
Waste collection in Rome is managed by AMA (Rome's waste-management company) and is already included in the TARI (waste-collection tax) you pay every year — there's no extra charge for the standard service. How it actually works depends on where you live: in some areas you leave bags outside your front door on specific days (door-to-door collection), while in others you use street bins that are accessible around the clock. The fastest way to find out what applies to your street is the AMA Roma app.
At a glance
| Cost | Included in TARI (no extra charge for standard collection) |
| Frequency | Door-to-door: 1–2 pickups per week per waste type. Street bins: emptied daily or at zone-specific intervals. Drop-off centres: open every day except public holidays. |
| How to check your street | AMA Roma app, amaroma.it, or freephone 800.867.035 |
| Documents needed | None to use the service. To request a door-to-door kit: photo ID and your TARI customer code. |
Door-to-door or street bins — how to find out what's in your neighbourhood
Rome is divided into 15 Municipi (administrative districts), and the collection system is not the same across the city. Some areas have door-to-door (PAP) collection: AMA distributes colour-coded bins and bags for free and collects them on a weekly schedule that varies by waste type. Other areas rely on street bins, which are available 24 hours a day for the five waste streams. In many neighbourhoods both systems exist side by side.
To find out exactly what applies to your address:
- Download the AMA Roma app (iOS App Store or Google Play), enter your address and the app will show you day by day what to put out or where to take your waste.
- Alternatively, go to amaroma.it — Raccolta Differenziata and search by address or neighbourhood code.
- You can also call the freephone number 800.867.035 (free from landlines and mobiles; hours posted on the AMA website).
The interactive map and the app are updated continuously as AMA gradually extends door-to-door collection across the city — don't rely on second-hand information.
The five waste streams: what goes where
Food waste (brown bin)
Goes in: cooked and raw food scraps, vegetable peelings, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags, meat and fish remains, stale bread, pasta, rice, cut flowers, small garden clippings, paper napkins soiled with food.
Does not go in: cat or dog litter, nappies/diapers, plastic bags, ash, cigarette butts.
Important: use only compostable bags certified to EN 13432 (brands like Mater-Bi or equivalent) or paper bags. Standard plastic bags block the composting process and contaminate the entire load.
Paper and cardboard (white or blue bin)
Goes in: newspapers, magazines, books, notebooks, loose sheets, envelopes, flattened pizza boxes (only if not greasy), cardboard boxes and packaging.
Does not go in: greasy paper, baking parchment, laminated paper, thermal receipts, dirty napkins (those go in food waste), used tissues. Flatten cardboard to reduce volume.
Plastic and metals — mixed materials (yellow bin)
Goes in: water and drinks bottles, detergent and shampoo bottles, yoghurt and fruit trays, plastic bags and film, clean polystyrene trays, drinks cans and empty tins, metal bottle caps and clean aluminium foil, empty and fully depressurised aerosol cans.
Does not go in: plastic toys (take to a drop-off centre), CDs and DVDs (general waste), disposable cutlery (general waste), pens and markers (general waste). Give dirty containers a quick rinse before throwing them in.
Glass (green bin)
Goes in: wine, beer and spirits bottles, preserves and jam jars, drinking glasses, glass cosmetic bottles.
Does not go in: mirrors (drop-off centre), light bulbs (WEEE — drop-off centre or shops over 400 m²), ceramics and porcelain (general waste), crystal (general waste), metal caps (those go in the yellow bin). Always remove lids and caps before putting a bottle in the bin.
General waste (grey or black bin)
Everything that can't be sorted goes here: nappies and incontinence pads, pet litter in tied bags, cigarette butts, thermal receipts and laminated paper, CDs and DVDs, toothbrushes, disposable razors, broken ceramics and porcelain, vacuum-cleaner dust.
If you have door-to-door collection: the key rules
In areas with PAP collection, bins and bags must be placed outside your front door or in the building's designated area the evening before collection, generally between 21:00 and 06:00 the following morning. Exact times are in your neighbourhood's collection calendar — find it in the app. Bring containers back inside promptly after collection.
Putting waste out at the wrong time or using the wrong stream can result in fines of €25 to €619 (Rome Capital waste-management regulations).
If you've moved to a door-to-door area and haven't received your bins, request them through the AMA Roma app, at a service desk, or by calling 800.867.035. You'll need photo ID and your TARI customer code.
Special items: where to take them
Many objects don't belong in any of the five standard bins and require specific disposal.
| Item | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Batteries (AA, AAA, etc.) | Dedicated collection points in shops and supermarkets |
| Expired medicines | Collection boxes at pharmacies |
| Used cooking oil | Dedicated AMA containers or drop-off centres |
| LED and energy-saving bulbs | WEEE — drop-off centres or shops over 400 m² |
| Used clothing | Caritas/Humana bins (different colours from waste bins) |
| Furniture and mattresses | Bulky items — book a free home collection |
| Household appliances | WEEE — drop-off centres |
| Larger garden clippings | Drop-off centres |
| Construction rubble | Licensed private disposal company (AMA does not collect it) |
For any item you're unsure about, use the "Dove lo butto" (What bin does this go in?) search in the AMA Roma app: type the item and you get an instant answer.
AMA Drop-off Centres
The drop-off centres (formerly known as isole ecologiche — local recycling points) are open every day except public holidays and accept free of charge: WEEE, bulky items, cooking oil, batteries, medicines, paint, toner cartridges, and much more. The updated list with addresses and opening hours is at amaroma.it/centri-di-raccolta.
Mistakes to avoid
- Plastic bags in the food-waste bin. This is the most common mistake and it ruins the recycling. Use only EN 13432 compostable bags.
- Leaving bulky items next to street bins. This counts as illegal dumping and is subject to fines. Book the free home-collection service via the AMA app or freephone.
- Mixing glass and plastic in the same bin. In Rome these are separate streams: green bin for glass, yellow bin for plastics and metals.
- Nappies in the food-waste bin. They go in general waste, not organic.
- Pouring cooking oil down the sink. It's illegal and causes serious damage to the sewage system. Use AMA's dedicated containers or take it to a drop-off centre.
- Putting waste out at the wrong time in door-to-door zones. Always check your neighbourhood's calendar in the app.
Special cases
Bins full or not emptied? Report it through the AMA app with a photo and geolocation, or call 800.867.035. Don't leave waste on the ground next to the bin — it's still a violation even if the bin is full.
Moving out and have boxes or small furniture? Take them directly to an AMA drop-off centre — disposal is free for private individuals.
Want to reduce your TARI bill through composting? If you have a garden or terrace you can set up a home composter and apply for a TARI reduction (a self-declaration plus an AMA inspection is required).
Just arrived and struggling with Italian? Street bins have universal pictograms that make the waste streams easy to identify. AMA distributes multilingual information leaflets during outreach campaigns at ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale — your local public-health authority) offices, Italian-language schools for foreigners, and immigration desks.
Official sources
- AMA Roma — official website
- AMA — Waste sorting
- AMA — Drop-off centres
- Roma Capitale — Environmental Protection Department
- Roma Capitale — TARI
Legal references: D.Lgs. 152/2006 Part IV (waste management), D.Lgs. 116/2020 (EU circular economy), EU Directives 2018/851 and 2018/852, Rome Capital urban waste management regulations (current Assemblea Capitolina resolution), AMA Service Charter.