On November 10, at the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Forests, ECOTIC, alongside the United Nations University - the Institute for Advanced Studies of Sustainability launched the results of the study “Quantifying Waste o
f Electric and Electronic Equipment in Romania ”.
The study is an absolute first in Romania and was generated by the pressing need to know the real situation of WEEE generation, collection and recycling in Romania. The study is part of
ECOTIC's “Steps for WEEE” project, funded by Norway Grants.
In short, here is what the study shows: in 2015, a person owns an average of 72kg of Electric and Electronic Equipment (EEE). Of this quantity, 7.35kg / person are disposed of as Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). A maximum of 30% of the generated WEEE is collected within the official collection systems and is reported as national result, 21% are given to relatives and friends, and the rest are the so-called bad habit disposals: WEEE are taken to the waste bins, handed over to street collectors of scrap or randomly discarded. This is the real scenery of WEEE generation, collection and recycling in Romania.
There are two important reasons for WEEE to reach authorized collection systems. First, WEEE that reaches improper collection systems (approx. 70000 tons) has a toxic effect on the environment and population health, because of the polluting agents within WEEE that are not recovered and neutralized. Second, all pieces of equipment that do not enter the authorized flow are lost opportunities for the recycling industry. That is why consumer awareness is an essential element for changing bad habits and their effects.
The event marked an important turning point in WEEE collection and recycling in Romania: now, the context is clear, quantifiable in figures and data. It is the solid basis on which we can all build concrete actions, from the level of public policy to the level of communication towards the general public. “The study is made by ECOTIC but it is not just for us. We consider it a common resource and we are making it available for all decision makers, from politics to operational. At the end of the day, we have a common goal, regardless of where we come from: the Ministry, producers or local administration ”- Valentin Negoita, President of ECOTIC.
Please find below the electronic version of the study, as well as the press release and presentations made at the event.
Dr. Federico Magalini presentation
Partner: With the support of:
