Romania has paid one billion euros in taxes for unrecycled plastic and an additional three million euros last week for environmental violations regarding unecologized industrial waste deposits, Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests Mircea Fechet told a specialist conference on Thursday.

Minister Mircea Fechet highlighted that the country is facing significant financial penalties, which could have been avoided with timely action on waste management. The government is now considering who should bear these costs – producers, local authorities or the state.

Fechet also pointed out that while Romania has transposed EU regulations on waste management, its practical application remains a challenge, with numerous infringement procedures open. Additionally, he discussed the global impact of plastic pollution, particularly in the Danube and Black Sea regions.

AGERPRES