The stream of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is constantly growing.  According to the estimates, it accounts for 4% of the total generated waste, its growth rate being approximately three times the rate for municipal solid waste. This prompted the adoption of Directive 2002/96/EC on WEEE and, especially in old member states, the creation of a collection and recycling infrastructure which helped increase and even quadruple the 4 kg/inhabitant collection target set in the Directive.

 

In Romania, the waste electrical and electronic equipment collection infrastructure is still insufficient as compared to the population. However, the feedback of the local authorities to RoRec Association’s initiative of creating a National WEEE Collection network demonstrates a high concern for providing services to benefit the community and for meeting the European standards.

 

“We are trying to create, in partnership with local authorities, a national infrastructure of WEEE collection centers that serves as many inhabitants as possible. In addition to the recurrent collection events that we have already been organizing for three years nationwide, we also focus on developing and strengthening the National Collection Network, a project that currently includes 23 centers opened in partnership with the townhalls in 14 counties”, stated Liviu Popeneciu, President of the Romanian Association for Recycling RoRec.

 

Nine of the 23 permanent centers available to several million inhabitants in 14 counties were inaugurated in the past nine weeks in Alba Iulia, Alexandria, Bistrita, Cernavoda, Fagaras, Gaesti, Sacalaz, Sinaia and Resita. Besides the possibility to dispose of WEEE directly at the collection center, natural and legal entities are provided a free pick up service in the case of large household appliances.

 

You can find the centers’ addresses, opening hours and phone numbers here – https://www.rorec.ro/ro/recicleaza-cu-noi/centre-de-colectare.

 

Waste electrical and electronic equipment is a special category of waste. First of all, WEEE contains hazardous substances for health and the environment, making it ten times more toxic than other waste. Therefore it must be collected in a specially fitted space, entirely safe, according to the environmental rules. This equipment also contains materials that can be recovered and reused through correct recycling, thus protecting natural resources. Moreover, these materials must be recycled under special conditions, while observing rigorous rules and standards, regulated at European level.