Romania's deposit return system achieves major milestone

TOMRA Collection Romania has announced a significant achievement in the country's deposit return system (DRS) for drink container recycling. The company reported that its reverse vending machines (RVMs) have reached over 500,000 container return sessions in a single day, marking a major milestone in the system's early success.

Romania's DRS, which launched on 30 November 2023, aims to collect 65% of plastic, glass, and metal beverage containers for recycling by the end of 2024. The targets will rise to 85% for glass and 90% for plastic and metal by 2026.

Since the start of 2024, participation in the DRS has seen remarkable growth. In January, the daily average of return sessions via TOMRA RVMs was 21,700, increasing to 454,000 by June. By early July, the system had surpassed 500,000 return sessions in a single day.

Dorin Mihai, General Manager of TOMRA Collection Romania, said: We are pleased to see more and more consumers returning beverage containers, showing that Romanians understand the benefits of collecting and recycling, significantly contributing to a cleaner environment. Each container returned in the DRS means one less container in our forests, rivers and streets.

TOMRA Collection Romania has deployed RVMs across the country, providing both large and small retailers with automated solutions to facilitate the return of drink containers. These machines are installed in a variety of store types, from hypermarkets to small village shops, with 80% of installations located in large retail chains. TOMRA also offers retailers guidance and support to ensure they meet DRS requirements and efficiently manage return points.