The circular economy is still regarded in Romania more as a matter of obligation than opportunity, said Andrei Corlan, General Commissioner of the National Environmental Guard (GNM), during a conference on Monday.
“We have drawn some conclusions based on our experience and expertise, on information gathered from inspections, and unfortunately, 20 years after signing the EU Accession Treaty, recycling and the circular economy—which we speak about almost daily—are still viewed as obligations, not opportunities. We are losing extremely valuable resources and continue to treat waste as trash. This is why, at the conferences I have attended, discussions have often focused on the impact of the Deposit-Return System and the circular economy. Romania has been part of the European Green Deal since 2019, which essentially sets out the opportunity to open new economic and industrial horizons for sustainability, to promote the green transition, and to make environmental performance a standard exercise in company calculations and business plans,” Corlan stated, Agerpres reads.
He also stressed the importance of social responsibility among children and young people in protecting the environment.
“Beyond coercive measures, where we sanction in order to redirect practices, what we truly need is legislation of quality that reflects practical realities. Alongside the entrepreneurial sector, which should approach environmental protection beyond the perspective of merely a clean environment, social responsibility is highly present among children and youth,” the GNM head added.
According to GNM data, Romania’s recycling targets have dropped below 10% (down 3.5% compared to the 2022–2023 period), which means public policies need to be adjusted based on realities in the field.
The “Restart Recycling” campaign focuses on at least three directions:
- shifting the mindset of central and local public institutions,
- changing the mentality of market players, and
- influencing public attitudes.
Through a collaboration protocol signed by the campaign’s partners (Let’s Do It, Romania!, the Circular Economy Coalition – CERC, the Packaging OIREP Association, the Pro DEEE Coalition Romania, and Recycling Map – Viitor Plus), GNM and NGOs are joining forces to protect the environment by reducing pollution and waste, promoting a circular economy based on reuse, repair, and recycling, and fostering social responsibility at the community and business levels.
