The volume of returned packaging since the beginning of this year has already exceeded the total recorded throughout all of 2024, indicating that the return of packaging through the Deposit-Return System (SGR) has become a regular practice among Romanians, RetuRO, the administrator of the system, announced on Friday.
According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, in the first eight months of this year, Romanians returned approximately 3.6 billion packaging units, and RetuRO delivered over 255,000 tonnes of materials - PET, aluminium, and glass - to recyclers.
The same source reports that in August alone, 605 million packaging units were collected, representing almost 94% of the quantity placed on the market.
'Since the launch of the system in November 2023, nearly 7 billion deposit-marked packaging units have been returned, with approximately 500,000 tonnes of material handed over to recyclers. With a collection rate of 81% in the first eight months of this year, the Deposit-Return System continues to support Romania's transition to a circular economy, encouraging millions of Romanians to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours,' the press release reads.
RetuRO Sistem Garantie Returnare SA is a not-for-profit company, meaning any profits generated through the collection of beverage packaging are reinvested exclusively in the development of the SGR.
The company was established by a consortium of three private shareholders: The Brewers of Romania Association for the Environment (30%), The Association of Soft Drink Producers for Sustainability (30%), The Retailers' Association for the Environment (20%), as well as one public shareholder - the Romanian state, represented by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (20%).
RetuRO, the SGR administrator, is entirely privately funded and is responsible for ensuring transparency regarding the quantities of beverage packaging placed on the market and returned by consumers. It contributes to Romania's sustainable development by managing packaging waste responsibly in order to meet the recycling targets imposed by the European Union.
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