How much do festivals pay for the waste they produce? In Cortona, the question appears in the appeal by Confcommercio and Confesercenti reported by Laura Lucente in La Nazione on 10 September 2023. The associations criticise the lack of regulation and seek clarity on the relationship between the Tari waste charge, covers served and waste volumes. They also claim some evening restaurant businesses lost 20–30 per cent of their trade: this is their assessment, rather than an independent measurement published by the council.

The issue of accounts has an earlier history. In a statement dated 26 February 2016, Confcommercio reported a meeting with Mayor Francesca Basanieri: points discussed included financial reporting to check the use of proceeds and coordinated inspections. The promise reported by the association is not equivalent to adoption of those rules.

The case documents a dispute about cost distribution and transparency, rather than established tax evasion. The sources cited do not contain the council’s response to the renewed appeal. Journalistic scrutiny therefore requires the rates actually applied, financial reports and authorisation documents, without presuming that festivals give nothing back to the area.