EUR 7 million invested in the selective collection of light packaging, reports Eco-Rom Ambalaje

In 2010, 331,700 tons of waste were collected by Eco-Rom Ambalaje organization, owner of the Der Grune Punkt system on the Romanian market. The amount represents 53.7 percent of the total quantity of light packaging, consisting in 617,100 tons. The legal objective set for 2010 was of 48 percent of this amount. These results are due to the increase in investments in the selective collection of light packaging, which reached EUR 7 million last year, of which 85 percent came from collectors and waste management officials, state Eco-Rom Ambalaje officials.

Of the total quantity of waste collected last year, almost 25,000 tons came from the population, which represents a 60 percent increase compared to last year. “This increase has occurred on account of the fact that we increased by almost 50 percent the infrastructure existent one year ago, we grew the number of connected localities to 150 and thus raised the number of inhabitants who benefit of the system from 3 to 4 million,” stated Mugurel Radulescu, president of Eco-Rom Ambalaje.

For 2011, Eco-Rom aims to extend and consolidate its public-private partnership, through the extension of the selective collection infrastructure and the increase of the number of inhabitants connected to the system to up to 25 percent of the Romanian population. The current local legislation makes it necessary for the authorities to reduce the deposited waste by 15 percent, and implicitly the quantity of recycled packaging.

Eco-Rom Ambalaje began its activity in 2004, with 81 company members. In 2010, 1810 companies adhered to the system. The founding members of the organization are Argus, Ball Packaging Europe, Chipita Romania, Coca-Cola HBC Romania, Heineken, Mars Romania, Munplast, Pepsi Americas, Romaqua Group Borsec, Tetrapak, Unilever and Titan.