Minister of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, Sergiu Lazarencu, held a working meeting in Bucharest today with his Romanian counterpart, Diana Buzoianu, Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests. The discussions focused on sharing best practices and expanding bilateral cooperation in environmental protection.
One of the main topics addressed was the Deposit Return System (DRS), already operational in Romania. The system allows consumers to return empty beverage containers—plastic, glass, or aluminum—directly to stores in exchange for the deposit paid at purchase. In the first six months of 2025, Romania reached a 79% collection rate, significantly reducing plastic waste in landfills. Moldova plans to implement its own DRS starting in 2027, drawing on Romania’s expertise to adapt the mechanism to national conditions.
The ministers also addressed the National Forest Inventory (NFI), a tool through which Romania regularly monitors the state of its forests, including wood volume, and carbon storage capacity. Romania agreed to provide technical assistance for Moldova’s first national forest inventory, seen as crucial for sustainable forest management and environmental policy.
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The agenda further included a visit to the Romanian Food Bank, which redistributes unsold but consumable food products to social centers and canteens for vulnerable groups. Moldova has already established a similar structure and a legislative framework to reduce food waste, but authorities stress the need for stronger involvement of producers and retailers to increase efficiency.
“Romania’s experience provides us with a solid model to build modern and functional systems for recycling, forest protection, and combating food waste. Together, we can implement green policies that bring direct benefits to citizens and the environment,” stated Minister Sergiu Lazarencu.