RetuRO, the administrator of Romania’s Deposit-Return System (DRS) and the country’s largest circular economy project, announced the latest program developments and results for January 2026, reporting continued growth in collection volumes and overall system performance.

Data for the first month of the year confirms the consolidation of the collection process, as the number of returned packaging units exceeded the number of new units placed on the market during the same period.

Approximately 356 million packaging units were collected in January, compared with around 330 million introduced onto the market, resulting in a return rate of about 108%. The company explained that this outcome reflects a normal seasonal variation, driven by the time gap between when products are purchased and when their packaging is returned.

Since the launch of the Deposit-Return System in Romania, consumers have returned more than 8.9 billion packaging units, while over 647,000 tonnes of materials have been delivered to recyclers for processing.

RetuRO says the system continues to play a key role in supporting Romania’s transition to a circular economy by mobilizing millions of citizens to adopt more responsible environmental behavior and by increasing the supply of recyclable materials back into the production chain.

Through the steady expansion of collection infrastructure and partnerships with retailers and producers, the program is positioning Romania among the regional leaders in packaging recovery and recycling performance.