This decrease highlights the urgent need for concrete, coherent and effective measures to stimulate recycling and protect the environment.
By category, the most significant decreases were observed in the recycling of glass, which dropped drastically from 42.6% in 2020 to 28.03% in 2021 – and metals, which recorded a decrease from 51.12% to 44.24%.
On the other hand, modest progress has been noted in the recycling of plastic and paper/cardboard. The recycling rate for plastic increased from 30.05% in 2020 to 31.59% in 2021 – and for paper and cardboard from 6.32% to 67.88%. However, these increases are insufficient to compensate for the significant decreases in the other sectors.
“This data represents a wake-up call for Romania. As we emphasize every time, it is clear that Romania is not making sufficient progress to meet the environmental goals set by the European Union. The problems are numerous, but it is essential to focus on solutions. It is imperative to intensify efforts to educate and raise awareness among the population about the importance of recycling, to improve the collection infrastructure, and to implement effective policies that stimulate recycling at a national level. Only through a coordinated approach and firm commitment can we ensure a sustainable future for our country,” says Cosmin Monda, founder and CEO of Clean Recycle.
In light of these challenges, a joint effort is needed from authorities, environmental organizations, citizens and companies generating packaging waste to actively contribute to increasing the recycling rate by adopting sustainable and responsible practices.
In the first 4 months of 2024, Clean Recycle managed over 37,000 tons of packaging waste for more than 800 clients in its portfolio, of which 18,000 tons were recycled and 1,700 tons were recovered through incineration.