Romanians selectively collected some 40,000 tonnes of waste last year, 50 times more waste than eight years ago, when they were collecting just 800 tonnes, according to Eco-Rom Ambalaje, which is the largest local waste management organization.

Currently, 464 towns and villages in Romania have selective collecting systems for packaging waste from people, compared to just 14 in 2006. About 45 percent of Romania’s population has access to these service provided by Eco-Rom. Eco-Rom Ambalaje recycled some 2.6 million tonnes of packaging waste in the last ten years, since it started business in Romania, which contributed to saving about 5.2 million tonnes of mineral resources.

Eco-Rom also set up partnerships ten years ago with local companies for packaging waste collecting. The members of the organization spent more than EUR 63 million in the last ten years to help this system grow. Some 80 percent of this sum is directed each year to local waste management companies to finance extending the separate collecting systems.

The goal is to help Romania achieve its commitments with the European Union in terms of waste management. Currently, some 55 percent of the packaging waste in Romania is being recycled, according to Eco-Rom Ambalaje.

editor@romania-insider.com