Waste Management Conference: the Guarantee – Return System and the Non-Recycled Plastic Fee
Reciclad`OR will participate in a new conference “Waste management: the Guarantee-Return System and the tax on non-recycled plastic“, organized by Green Report, which will take place on March 7, 2023, starting at 10:00, at the Great Hall of ARCUB, Lipscani Street 84 -90.
The agenda of the event includes two interactive panels in which experts in the field, government representatives, producers and operators from the collection and recycling industry will address current waste management issues and propose solutions for a faster and more efficient implementation of the Guarantee and Return Scheme (GRS), as well as for the introduction of additional regulations for the transposition of the single-use plastic directive.
The provision introduced by GEO 125/2022, which amends GEO 196/2005 on the environmental fund, will also be debated, namely the payment of the 2 RON/kg contribution for the difference between the quantities of packaging waste corresponding to the minimum recovery targets and the quantities of packaging waste actually recovered or incinerated.
EVENT AGENDA
PANEL I The Return- Guarantee System – solutions for faster and more efficient implementation
The Return Guarantee Scheme (RGS), designed to encourage the return of single-use beverage packaging for recycling, has entered its preliminary phase with the start of registrations in the scheme for producers, importers and retailers. The approximately 90,000 companies concerned should complete the registration process by February 28. However, there are concerns that the procedure will not be finalized by the deadline, which could again affect the timetable. But the obstacles are certainly not just there. RetuRo, the system’s administrator, has several steps to take to implement the system nationwide, including administrative, financial, infrastructure and communication campaigns. This raises a number of questions about the risks associated with operating the scheme, how to incentivize people to bring recyclables beyond the guarantee offered, building trust in the scheme and developing an accessible infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
SPEAKERS
- Tanczos Barna – Minister for the Environment, Water and Forests
- Gemma Webb – CEO, RetuRO
- Julia Leferman – General Manager, Romanian Brewers Association
- Alice Nichita – President, Soft Drinks Producers Association for Sustainability
- Mario Cretu – Member of the Board of Directors, Retailers’ Association for the Environment
PANEL II – From single-use plastic to packaging waste management: how can regulation be improved in Romania?
Ordinance 6/2021, which transposes the single-use plastics directive into national law and lays the groundwork for what should follow, is insufficient, according to the industry, with more regulation needed on the working, control or reporting procedures side. Although the subject is being worked on by the environment and economy ministries, there is still no draft. Another challenge in the field of waste management is the provision introduced by GEO 125/2022 amending GEO 196/2005 on the environmental fund, namely the payment of the 2 RON/kg contribution for the difference between the quantities of packaging waste corresponding to the minimum recovery targets and the quantities of packaging waste actually recovered or incinerated. This is strongly contested by both producers and OIREPs. The new provision applies from January 1, 2023.
SPEAKERS
- Cosmin Teodoru – Manager, Waste Management Directorate, Ministry of Environment
- Andrei Antipa – Vice-President, Environment Fund Administration
- Marius Brînzea – Strategy Manager, Reciclad’OR
- Constantin Damov – Co-founder and President of GreenGroup
- Alin Vișan – President, Romanian Association for Packaging and Environment
