ANZIO R.I.S.E. for the OCEAN - Policy Recommendations: From Polystyrene to a Zero Leakage Harbour

ANZIO R.I.S.E. for the OCEAN - Policy Recommendations: From Polystyrene to a Zero Leakage Harbour translates six months of participatory action research, civic engagement, cultural mediation and reusable-crate experimentation in the Port of Anzio, Italy, into a practical policy pathway for reducing expanded-polystyrene (EPS) leakage and developing circular harbour infrastructure. The central policy finding is that replacing single-use fish crates with reusable alternatives is not sufficient on its own. A functioning transition requires washing and sanitation, storage, return logistics, pooling, traceability, residual EPS management, appropriate economic incentives and shared governance. Based on field observation, stakeholder interviews and consultations, environmental monitoring, participatory activities, campaign records and a 250-crate reuse pilot, the document proposes five priority actions: recognise EPS/polystyrene fish crates as a high-risk material in exposed harbour environments; launch a controlled Filiera Blu reuse pilot in short local seafood circuits; establish washing, sanitation, storage and pooling infrastructure; improve residual EPS collection and management; and create an operational civic node and Tavolo Porto a Dispersione Zero. The recommendations propose a staged transition rather than an immediate ban, beginning with short and controllable local seafood circuits and progressively developing the infrastructure and governance required for a Zero Leakage Harbour. While grounded in Anzio, the policy architecture is intended to be transferable to other Mediterranean and European working ports. The document forms part of the Open Access outputs of ANZIO R.I.S.E. for the OCEAN, developed within PartArt4OW, alongside the Final Report, Impact Assessment, Replication Toolkit and Digital Archive. Project website: https://anzio-rise.rawdrivers.org