RetuRO, the administrator of the Deposit-Return System, the largest circular economy project in Romania, opens its fourth regional center for counting and sorting DRS packaging in Otopeni, Ilfov County. Located within the Olympian Park North Bucharest industrial park, the center will manage and process beverage packaging collected both manually, from retailers, and from reverse vending machines (RVMs).
With an area of 10,000 square meters, the center in Otopeni is the largest regional hub in RetuRO’s collection infrastructure, with an annual counting capacity of approximately 900 million DRS packages and a sorting and processing capacity for different materials (PET, metal, glass) twice as large (1.8 billion DRS packages).
The center is equipped with advanced machinery, including PET and metal can counting machines, glass processing machines, optical sorters, and balers. Metal (aluminum and steel) and plastic packaging will be counted, sorted, and compacted for transportation to recycling firms. Glass packaging will also be counted, broken, and prepared for recycling. Additionally, bales from regional counting centers will be brought here and exposed to optical sorting processes.
Gemma Webb, CEO and President of the RetuRO Board: “The Deposit-Return System operates within a perpetual dynamic, Romanians are returning more and more packaging, and the evolution we observe from one moment to another reflects an increasing involvement from consumers. The opening of new sorting and counting centers is an essential component in the system’s evolution and one of our priorities at this time. Currently, we operate four operational RetuRO centers, with a collective processing capacity ranging between 2.6 and 3 billion packages annually.
The opening of the new center in Otopeni is more than just a new step in developing the infrastructure of a circular, sustainable economy. It confirms our ability to adapt and grow in an ever-evolving environment. There is still reluctance, there are challenges that we are facing, but these are normal stages of a major structural change, encompassing economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Over the next three months, we will continue to focus on expanding our infrastructure, with plans in place for opening centers in Dolj, Bacău, and Prahova counties.”
The regional center in Otopeni will primarily serve the southern and eastern regions of the country, as well as the neighboring counties. By the end of April, almost 70 million DRS packages were returned in Bucharest and Ilfov.
The opening of the Otopeni center brings significant benefits to the local economy, creating new opportunities for green jobs. The new center will operate with a team of approximately 150 employees working in three shifts.
The Deposit-Return System has consistently evolved since its launch, with approximately 1.5 billion DRS packages placed on the market by manufacturers, of which 260 million have been returned by consumers by the end of April. Most of these packages have already been directed to recycling facilities, the final stage of this mechanism, thus confirming the efficient operation of the Deposit-Return System.
Case studies show that in countries where the deposit-return system has been implemented, collection rates have increased up to 90 percent within a period of two to three years.
