IPP and ECOTIC have launched a new study dedicated to WEEE collection in Romania

de | October. 7, 2016 | News

"The perception of the population and producers about the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment" is the study conducted by the Institute for Public Policy and GDB Research together with ECOTIC. The results of the study were presented on September 28, 2016, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests.

 "We are convinced that, by co-interested all actors involved in the WEEE recovery process - public authorities, producers, OTRs and citizens - we can bring about significant changes in the way this process gives rise, on the one hand, to the sense of responsibility and it leads to a new European perspective - that of the circular economy, in which waste is a resource and not a burden. ”said Elena Tudose, IPP Director.

 The study "Perception of the population and producers about WEEE collection" was conducted based on data collected by applying an online questionnaire among manufacturers and distributors of electrical and electronic equipment registered with ANPM. The margin of error is: +/- 4,2%, and the application period: August - September 2016.

For the citizens' perception, the data of a GBD Research commissioned to ECOTIC, made in June 2016, on the urban population, volume 1000 respondents by CATI method, margin of error 3,1% were used.

 2016 is the first year in which Romania has a mandatory national WEEE collection target of 40% of the average equipment placed on the market in the last three years. The responsibilities are, consequently, much greater, at the level of all those involved: producers, central and local public authorities, sanitation and population.

In this context, the study reveals interesting conclusions regarding the perceptions and knowledge of the population and of the producers of electrical and electronic equipment in Romania.

production

  • 20% from EEE producers know the WEEE collection target for 2016 (40% of the average of the last 3 years). Companies with more employees and higher amounts of EEE on the market know a little better about this - up to 50%.
  • 50% from the producers know what are the transferable and non-transferable responsibilities to a collective organization.
  • 61% among the producers consider that the last 5 years have been characterized by a positive evolution in WEEE collection.

Authority

  • 29% from the producers claim that the lack of education / information of the citizens represents the main barrier in reaching the targets. He also believes that this obstacle must be the priority of the authorities.

Population

  • The urban population is not aware of the national targets for collecting recyclable waste. Regarding the responsibility for WEEE collection, the urban population considers that the responsibility is of the local authorities / sanitation (21%), followed by specialized companies 8,5% and central authorities 7.2%.

 

Collective organizations (OTR)

  • The main source of information on legislative news in the field of WEEE are OTRs (75%);
  • In relation to OTRs, manufacturers are most satisfied with sthe support offered (45%). Most manufacturers are satisfied with the relationship with OTRs.

"I note from the study, very useful, in fact, that the actors in the waste management chain identify and assign responsibilities and problems especially to other actors, and less to themselves. The creation of a functional and sustainable market is conditioned, however, by the real involvement of all actors (producers, local public authorities, but also final consumers), in addition to the need for infrastructure, information and awareness of the population. "  said Raul Pop, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, at the end of the debate.

 Study presentation is available here.