Anca Marinescu, RetuRO: “One of our challenges for 2025 is to improve the DRS infrastructure in rural areas”

“2024 was a year full of challenges not only for us, but also for all other participants in the Deposit-Return System: consumers, retailers, manufacturers, the Romanian state, etc. We managed to collect almost 3 and a half billion from consumers and lay the foundations for a circular economy. I think we learned together with the Romanians to value resources and extend the life of resources,” Anca Marinescu, Corporate Affairs & Communication Manager, RetuRO said at Circular Economy Conference organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest and Sustainability-Today.

Key statements:

• The impact of our activity is visible because the environment is much cleaner and this is a great success considering the situation before the launch of the DRS system. Of course, there is still a lot to do, but I think the start was very good.
• 2025 started strong. We had collection rates in January of over 100%, a rate of 90% in February. This means that if we have an easy-to-use collection infrastructure, people want to be part of this circular economy project and want to make their contribution.
• We face many challenges, and some appear from one day to the next. A challenge throughout the past year, but one that we have this year as well, is the infrastructure in rural areas. There is a gap compared to urban areas in the implementation of any project of this magnitude, and the difference was seen in this case.
• The return guarantee system was not as well received in rural areas as in cities. For 2025, this is our priority. We have developed several solutions through which we can involve people in rural areas more. We will make some mobile solutions available to consumers, we will start some pilot projects this year and we want to see what will happen and then we will be able to draw some conclusions regarding the future development of the DRS system.
• At the moment, the idea of ​​the return guarantee system is return to retail. The legislation only allows collection points installed in retailers’ stores.