The 3^rd International Symposium on the Models of Associated Management of the Saneamento Services, titled “Regionalization and associated management of the public services for the treatment of Urban Solid Waste”, was held in Salvador de Bahia on May 13^th through 15^th within the framework of the Hydroaid - Ministerio das Cidades inter-institutional cooperation program.
Within the re-organization process which is currently in progress in Brazil, great focus is given to strengthening the role of the Central State in starting and supporting a pathway to regionalization which may ensure the access to the services of saneamento basico to all citizens. Since the approval – in 2005 – of the new law on public consortiums, an intensive debate has started on the legislative, administrative and technical premises aimed at setting up and consolidating a joint management of the Services at regional scale, with particular attention to the public services for the treatment of urban solid waste. After a biennium, during which the Italian experience – conveyed by Hydroaid – was  the main term of comparison for Brazil as regards both  regulations and management, this symposium capitalized  the findings, thus offering an audience of local authorities and industry operators the direct experience of those who – in Italy – deal every day with the concrete effectiveness of the model adopted.
Thanks to the interesting experience led through the Ministerio das Cidades/Hydroaid cooperation and to the precious contribution by the Brazilian Ministério do Meio Ambiente, the Symposium could  respond to the complexity of a scenario where the regulatory, management, financial and technical elements intersect with equal significance.
The event witnessed the contribution by direct participation of the following institutions: Italian Ministry of Environment (Mr. Diego Tommasini - Italian Environment Desk – São Paulo), National Observatory on Waste (Mr. Fabrizio Clementi – Deputy Chairman), Regional Council of Piedmont (Ms. Agata Milone – Manager of the Waste Planning and management Sector), Province Council of Turin, ATO Rifiuti (Ms. Agata Fortunato -  Manager of the Office for the Integrated Management of the Waste), Authority for the Vigilance of the Water Services and Management of the Urban Solid Waste – Regional Council of Emilia Romagna (Mr. Andrea Cirelli), Federambiente, (Mr. Daniele Fortini – Chairman).
The Symposium witnessed the participation of over 250 public officials, experts, managers and operators of the sector, amongst whom Mr. Dulce Passaro, Director of IRAR – Istituto di Regulaçao Agua e Residuos of Portugal.
The Symposium was entirely broadcast on the website of Secretária de Desenvolvimento Urbano da Bahia – SEDUR/BA.