Legislation

European Union legislation

The EU has adopted a series of directives that all Member States must transpose into national law. Romania has clear packaging waste recycling targets. The overall recycling target is 65% of all packaging placed on the market. By law, obligated companies (those placing packaged products on the market) must ensure that the packaging resulting from consumption is collected separately and recycled by authorised recyclers. Otherwise, they pay a contribution of RON 2/kg to the Environment Fund for the quantities not recycled.

Why it matters

If we neglect the collection and recycling of packaging waste, the costs will be passed on to the end consumer. According to the available data, EU recycling targets tend to increase periodically, so companies placing packaging on the market need a firm contract with a PRO to avoid penalties.

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) replaces Directive 94/62/EC and applies from 12 August 2026. It sets EU-wide rules on packaging design, recyclability, labelling and extended producer responsibility.