Around three billion deposit-bearing containers were returned by consumers in the first seven months of this year, including more than 580 million in July alone, according to data released Tuesday by RetuRO, the operator of Romania’s Deposit-Refund System (SGR).

„Since the beginning of the year, approximately 3 billion deposit-bearing containers have been returned by consumers, and RetuRO has delivered 215,000 tonnes of packaging to recyclers. In July, over 580 million SGR containers were collected – the largest monthly volume since the system was launched in November 2023, representing 79% of the amount placed on the market,” reads a press release.

With a 79% collection rate in the first seven months of 2024, the SGR continues to support Romania’s transition towards a circular economy, encouraging millions of citizens to adopt more environmentally responsible behavior, according to RetuRO.

RetuRO S.A. is a not-for-profit company set up by a consortium of three private shareholders – the Romanian Brewers Association for the Environment (30%), the Soft Drinks Producers Association for Sustainability (30%), and the Retailers’ Association for the Environment (20%) – along with a public shareholder, the Romanian state, represented by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (20%).

AGERPRES