“We provide solutions for waste collection and sorting. We are present in over 80 markets worldwide. One of TOMRA’s roles is to bring information to this sector and to talk about good practices from other countries. Probably the fastest and cheapest way to reach results is to borrow from the ideas of already implemented processes.

The deposit-return system has passed the test of time, it is implemented on several continents, and the results speak for themselves. We are talking about countries that have decades of experience in implementing this system and that have reached a 99% collection rate on certain fractions, such as Germany,” Doinita Mihai, Vice president Public Affairs Eastern Europe South, TOMRA said during Waste Management Forum organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest and Sustainability Today.

“The role of bringing information to the markets that want to implement the deposit-return system naturally also comes with challenges. Most of the time, the challenge is the lack of dialogue between stakeholders. In Romania we are talking about a system that will impact the lives of millions of Romanians. We are happy to be part of this process. We were involved – along with manufacturers, retailers, state representatives – in all the discussions regarding this topic.

We have carried out an analysis of the efficient guarantee-return systems in other countries and we have noticed that there are some key elements that are found in all systems. It is a mechanism based on clear principles, which leads to an average collection rate of over 90%. Fortunately, the deposit-return system in Romania has a good design, a vast infrastructure for collecting and sorting waste packaging.”