Romania\u2019s Deposit-Return System (SGR) has exceeded expectations more than two years after its launch, while still facing significant challenges ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe DRS system is at a point where it works well and, moreover, it has somehow exceeded all our expectations more than two years after its launch. This, however, does not mean we are free of challenges,\u201d Robert Uzuna, president of ARAM (Romanian Association for Packaging and the Environment) stated today at the Resource Recovery Summit.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him, while the system has performed strongly so far, further adjustments are still needed to ensure it meets its long-term objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are still things to be settled in how the system operates. Even though it has performed very well so far\u2014and I believe the real stress test was last year\u2019s return rate performance\u2014this year brings major challenges if we are to reach the targets set both in the system\u2019s original plan and in the legislation governing its obligations,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uzuna highlighted that achieving higher performance levels will become increasingly difficult as the system approaches its maximum potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis means a 10-percentage-point increase in achieving collection targets for two materials. When performance approaches its designed maximum potential, further incremental growth becomes harder to achieve. I say this from an optimistic perspective, and by no means as an excuse or as a prelude to complaints about what is not working or who might stand in our way,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to be a demanding year, requiring close cooperation between all stakeholders involved in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have entered 2026 with multiple challenges, but also with expectations that, together with our partners in building the system\u2014first and foremost the shareholders and the authorities\u2014we will do everything in our power not to disappoint in the third year of SGR\u2019s operation,\u201d Uzuna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also noted that while the system is progressing, it has not yet reached full maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are still adjustments to be made, and the DRS system is still some distance away from reaching cruising speed. We need to allow the system time to settle and fine-tune its mechanisms, and I would say it is premature to expand it. On the other hand, moving forward, we may keep an open mind and be ready to discuss and analyse thoroughly any proposals for potential expansion opportunities, by dedicating time properly, as this is normally a lengthy process, if done diligently.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Romania\u2019s Deposit-Return System (SGR) has exceeded expectations more than two years after its launch, while still facing significant challenges ahead. \u201cThe DRS system is at a point where it works well and, moreover, it has somehow exceeded all our expectations more than two years after its launch. This, however, does not mean we are free […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4988","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-circular_economy","8":"category-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4988"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4998,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4988\/revisions\/4998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sustainability-today.ro\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}