Second-hand buses from Tel Aviv are too polluting for Rome's streets.

The 70 second-hand buses leased recently by Rome's public transport company ATAC are sitting in a garage as they do not conform to the European Union's pollution norms.

Manufactured in 2008, the 70 buses arrived in Rome from Israel where they have done 10 years' service on the roads of Tel Aviv.

However the buses' Euro 5 engines do not comply with EU emission standards as they are too polluting.

ATAC says the city will not be out of pocket and that the supplier is paying to upgrade the buses to the Euro 6 level required by EU legislation, according to a statement issued by ATAC.

Photo Il Messaggero