MOLDOVA INTENDS TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEM OF GUARANTEEING RETURN OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, FOLLOWING EXAMPLE OF ROMANIA

Moldova may have a System of Guarantee Return (SGR) for recyclable materials following the example of Romania. This topic was discussed during the visit of Environment Minister Sergiu Lazarencu to Bucharest, where, together with his Romanian counterpart Mircea Fechet, he participated in the opening of the fourth regional center for the collection of packaging within the System implemented by RetuRo.

The ministry's press service reported that the SGR provides for the payment of a monetary guarantee (0.5 Romanian lei) when buying a drink, which is then returned to the consumer when the bottle is returned, thus contributing to the collection of used packaging, its recycling and return to economic circulation.

Lazarencu stressed that such centers can be created in Moldova as well, and Romania's experience will be very useful and will help overcome the difficulties in implementing this system.

"I am sure that SGR will work better and better in Romania, and we, as a country that wants to join the EU as soon as possible, have a direct interest in using this good practice in Moldova as well. In April, the final reading of the Law on Waste was passed in Parliament, which will allow us to implement a system of return guarantee according to the Romanian model. We expect that by 2027 it will be operational in Moldova as well," he said.

SGR started to be implemented in Romania from the fall of 2023. According to Mircea Fechet, from November 30, 2023, every Romanian can return plastic, glass or aluminum containers to stores, receiving a "monetary guarantee" in return. The system is Romania's most important circular economy project.