The Minister of the Environment, Diana Buzoianu, stated that Romania has regressed in waste management, with a recycling rate of only 1.3%.

Diana Buzoianu, the Minister of the Environment, discussed the alarming situation of waste management in Romania, which has reached last place in the European Union in recycling, with a reuse rate of only 1.3%, down from 1.7% in 2015. She emphasized that many legal obligations are being ignored, and most landfills do not comply with legal standards, receiving unsorted waste that could have been recycled. This generates high costs for the population, with Romania paying considerable fines to the European Union annually.

Buzoianu explained that disposing of unsorted waste is cheaper than recycling, which discourages local authorities from investing in infrastructure. To change this situation, the Ministry of the Environment will launch a national information campaign next year, aimed at involving operators, local authorities, and citizens in the recycling process.