The Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, announced a new Government Decision that the Government of Romania wants to adopt, and this is because it recently considers the progress and legislative changes related to the guarantee-return system (SGR) for non-reusable primary packaging, an essential project for sustainable management of packaging waste in Romania.
Minister of the Environment transmits that Government Decision no. 1074/2021, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, establishes the legal framework for the implementation of SGR throughout the country. The main goal of this initiative is to fulfill the environmental objectives aimed at reducing waste, as well as increasing the recycling rates of valuable materials such as glass, plastic and metal.
In order to ensure the efficiency of the system, the Government established minimum annual objectives for the return of SGR packaging for producers who introduce packaged products on the national market. Thus, by the end of 2024, they must reach a return rate of 65% for glass, 65% for plastic and 65% for metal. The objectives increase progressively, reaching 2025% glass, 75% plastic, 80% metal in 80, and from 2026 to 85% glass, 90% plastic, 90% metal.
The Minister of the Environment says that, according to the monthly reports of the SGR administrator, the results so far are remarkable. After only 9 months from launch, the system recorded 2,32 billion returned packaging (December 2023 – September 2024), with a rate of over 80% in September 2024. Approximately 144.000 tons of packaging have already been handed over to recyclers .
Additionally, 7 collection and processing centers were inaugurated in the counties of Prahova, Dolj, Bacau, Brasov, Cluj, Ilfov and Timis, to support the process of validation, counting and processing of returned packaging, having the capacity to manage the entire volume of packaging put on the market this year.
The Minister of the Environment highlighted the extraordinary receptivity of the population towards SGR: 98% of Romanians know this system, and 4 out of 5 citizens have returned SGR packages at least once. The active participation of consumers directly supports the achievement of European recycling targets, contributing to the consolidation of the local recycling market and the supply of the best quality raw material.
With regard to the legislative framework, through a new project of normative act it is proposed to amend and complete the emergency Government Ordinance no. 196/2005 regarding the Environmental Fund. Thus, in article 3, a new paragraph is introduced that gives the Environment Fund Administration the responsibility of managing projects for the closure and greening of waste deposits financed from the state budget.
In order to avoid negative consequences in case of failure to meet the minimum return objectives in 2024 - the year in which the SGR consolidates its operating mechanisms - it is proposed that the financial penalties apply starting from 2025.
This measure ensures a stabilization and optimization interval, so that the system reaches the maximum capacity necessary to achieve the ambitious environmental targets established by the legislation in force.
The Minister of the Environment wants the legislative changes, the significant increase in packaging return rates and the proactive involvement of the population to underline the success and relevance of SGR in Romania. This system takes shape as a strong vector of upgrade of environmental practices and stimulation of the circular economy.
