Romania opts for state aid for recycling industry

The Romanian Environment Ministry has included in its 2018 budget an amount intended to support the country’s recycling industry through a state aid scheme, the authorities have announced without specifying the amount.

The Environment minister of Romania, Gratiela Gavrilescu said that this is the first time that state aid scheme is going to be applied in the recycling industry in the country.

Romania’s waste recycling rate is very small – only 7 percent. Resolute to develop the recycling industry, the Ministry decided to bring money to the Environment Fund for a state aid scheme.

According to Business Review, Gavrilescu said that the goal is to achieve high share in selective collection through the implementation of the National Plan of Waste Management and the economic instruments the Government will approve soon.

The action is both necessary and beneficial, as much in economic terms as for healthcare and wellbeing of the population, she added.

In order to educate people to collect waste selectively, the Ministry will launch the National Program of Awareness, Information and Education of Population.

The Government Decision regarding the National Plan of Waste Management was approved at the end of last year, leading to the closure of an infringement, due to the decision taken by the European Commission of the European Union Court of Justice, as well as to the prevention of fine to Romania.

Last spring, The European Commission decided to take Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to review and adopt its national waste management plan and waste prevention program, in line with the objectives of the EU Waste Framework Directive.

Previously, Romania was advised to improve compliance with the EU waste management legislation. In the EU Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) report, the European Commission stated that Romania had significantly improved its environmental performance since its accession in 2007, but the implementation of the legislation which accurately reflects the environmental requirements agreed at the EU level on the ground was still a challenge.