In Lecce, as everywhere in Italy, household waste collection is paid for through a municipal tax, the TARI (tassa sui rifiuti). There is no private contract to sign: you declare to the city that you occupy a home, the city bills you once a year, and the collection company, Monteco, gives you the bins for separated collection.
This guide explains how to register, who pays, how to get your bins, and the reductions available, based on the city’s TARI page and its 2026 TARI regulation, checked in October 2026.
Registering for TARI
Anyone who owns or occupies a home or other premises that can produce waste must register. You do this by filing a declaration (dichiarazione or autodenuncia) with the city’s TARI office within 90 days of moving in, under the 2026 TARI regulation. The form asks for the cadastral data of the property, its floor area, the start date of occupancy and, for homes, the number of occupants. For businesses, it asks for the floor area and the type of activity.
The current forms are on the city’s TARI page, along with forms for changes of address, floor area or number of occupants, transfers and closures. The version below is the household form from 2023, kept here for reference.
How to submit the declaration
The TARI office (Ufficio TARI) is at Viale Marche 2, in the former ONMI building. Its desk hours are Tuesday from 15:00 to 17:00 and Thursday and Friday from 9:00 to 12:00, and the toll-free number 800 659502 answers Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00.
You can also send the declaration by email, but match the channel to the address:
- from an ordinary email address, write to infotributi@comune.lecce.it;
- from a certified PEC address, write to protocollo@pec.comune.lecce.it.
The city warns that mixing the two, for example sending from an ordinary address to the PEC address, means the message is rejected and treated as never received. PEC gives you a registered protocol number quickly, which helps with the next step.
Who pays
TARI is normally paid by whoever occupies the property: the owner who lives there, or a tenant on a long-term lease. If a property is occupied for six months or less in the same calendar year, the owner pays, not the occupant. The bill is based on the floor area and, for homes, the number of occupants.
If you have been living somewhere without paying, file the declaration with the real start date. The city can then assess the arrears, generally for up to five years back, with interest and penalties. Coming forward yourself is always better than waiting for an audit.
Getting your bins
With your declaration and its protocol number, go to the Monteco front office at Via Armando Diaz 34 to collect your separated-collection kit. Bring your ID, your health card (tessera sanitaria) and, if you have one, your last TARI notice. The kit includes bins for organic waste, paper and residual waste, bags for organic and plastic waste, sorting instructions and the collection calendar for your district.
If you sent the declaration by ordinary email and the protocol number is slow to arrive, you can forward that email to Monteco at montecolecce@montecospa.it and ask them to register you before you go. Our calendar lives on the fridge, and the first few weeks of learning which bag goes out on which evening are the only hard part.
For bulky items and anything the regular collection does not take, see the section on recycling centers in Lecce below.
If a bin is stolen
Bins are tied to your address, so report a missing one before asking for a replacement. First check that a neighbor has not moved it or that the crew did not take it away because it was damaged.
Then email the Polizia Municipale at poliziamunicipale@comune.lecce.it to report the theft, copying Monteco at montecolecce@montecospa.it so the replacement request reaches them too. Say when and where it happened, and include the name on the TARI account, your tax code (or VAT number for a business) and your full address. Monteco will reply with a time to collect the replacement. Keep the emails, and ask Monteco Lecce whether a fee applies.
Dump runs: the collection centers (CCR)
Bulky items, electronics, paint and anything that does not fit your bins go to one of Lecce’s municipal collection centers (centri comunali di raccolta, CCR). On your first visit, show a copy of your latest TARI bill and your tessera sanitaria (health card). Entry closes 15 minutes before closing time, and the centers are closed on public holidays (Monteco).
Locations of the Public Collection Centers
Lecce operates four key public collection centers, strategically placed across the city for easy access to residents. It’s crucial to note that the public collection centers in Lecce have strict operating hours, and access is granted up to 15 minutes before closing time. Here is a breakdown of the opening hours for each center:
Viale Giuseppe Grassi, 150
Located in front of the IP gas station, this center is one of the primary sites for waste disposal.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 07:00 to 13:00
- Wednesday, Saturday: 15:00 to 19:00
- Sunday: 07:00 to 13:00
Viale Giovanni Paolo II, 158
Situated just before the stadium parking lots, this center serves residents in the nearby neighborhoods.
- Monday and Friday: 13:00 to 19:00
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 07:00 to 13:00
- Sunday: 07:00 to 13:00
Via Francesco Marzano, 14 (Zona Industriale)
Located in Lecce’s industrial zone, this site is especially convenient for larger loads and for residents and businesses located in industrial areas.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 13:00 to 19:00
- Wednesday and Friday: 07:00 to 13:00
SP4 per Novoli, Km 4
This center is on the SP4 road toward Novoli and takes non-hazardous waste only.
- Monday and Saturday: 07:00 to 13:00
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 13:00 to 19:00
- Note: This site accepts only non-hazardous waste.
These locations are open to the public during specific hours, ensuring that residents have ample opportunity to dispose of their waste. The collection centers are closed on public holidays, so it’s important to plan accordingly when considering a visit.
What You Can Dispose of at Public Collection Centers
Lecce’s collection centers accept a wide range of waste types to ensure proper sorting and recycling. Here’s a list of items you can bring to the public dumps:
- Organic waste (food scraps, garden waste)
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic
- Metal
- Glass
- Clothing
- Pruning and trimmings from gardens
- Bulky waste (furniture, appliances)
- Wood
- Electronic equipment
- Neon lamps
- Batteries
- T and/or F containers (typically referring to containers used for toxic or flammable hazardous substances, identified by hazard symbols)
- Expired medications
- Toner and printer cartridges
- Vegetable and mineral oils
Importantly, some items such as batteries, Toxic and/or Flammable material containers, toner, printer cartridges, and mineral oils are only accepted if they come from domestic (household) sources. Businesses will need to follow different regulations for disposing of these items.
What You Cannot Dispose of at Public Collection Centers
While Lecce’s public dumps offer extensive waste disposal options, there are several restrictions in place to prevent the dumping of materials that require special treatment. The following items are not accepted:
- Unsorted or mixed waste
- Vehicle parts or scrap metal
- Special waste (such as hazardous or toxic waste)
For non-domestic users (businesses), additional restrictions apply. The following items cannot be disposed of at the collection centers:
- Toner (businesses must use specialized disposal services)
- Waste from demolition and construction activities (cement, bricks, tiles, ceramics, etc.)
- Tires
- Gas in pressurized containers
- Waste from chimney cleaning
Understanding these restrictions is essential for businesses and residents alike to ensure that waste is properly sorted and disposed of according to local regulations.
Rules and Guidelines for First-Time Users
If you are visiting one of Lecce’s public collection centers for the first time, there are a few important rules to follow. Upon your first disposal, you must present a copy of your most recent TARI (tassa sui rifiuti, waste tax) bill. This bill is the local tax for waste management services. Additionally, you’ll need to present your Tessera Sanitaria (Health Card) for identification purposes.
This process helps ensure that only eligible residents and businesses are using the facilities and that waste is being disposed of responsibly.
Reductions and exemptions
The national waste bonus
Since 2025, a national bonus sociale rifiuti cuts the annual TARI by 25% for households with an ISEE up to €9,530, or up to €20,000 with at least four dependent children. It is applied automatically, provided the TARI account is in the name of a member of the household, and the bonus for one year is credited by 30 June of the following year.
Lecce’s own reductions
Under Article 29 of the 2026 regulation:
- people permanently assisted by the city, and households with an ISEE up to €6,000 that own no property (small shares under 30% aside), are exempt;
- households with a member who has a permanent, severe disability with attendance allowance (Law 104, article 3, paragraph 3) and an ISEE up to €14,000 pay 50% less on the variable part;
- university students renting a home in Lecce and holding the TARI account in their name pay 20% less on the variable part, with proof of enrollment at the University of Salento and the registered lease.
These reductions must be requested each year with the form on the TARI page and a valid ISEE, by 30 June.
More Lecce guides: our Lecce hub.
