Since the launch of Romania’s Deposit-Return System, over 4.8 billion packaging items have been returned by citizens. Bucharest leads the nation, with residents returning an average of 33 kilograms of deposit-packaging per capita—twice the national average.
According to an analysis by the Ecoteca Association, each Romanian has returned an average of 17 kilograms of deposit-packaging since the system’s inception, equivalent to over one kilogram per person per month.
Following Bucharest, Ilfov County recorded 29 kg per capita, Constanța 27 kg, Brașov 22 kg, Cluj 21 kg, Timiș 20 kg, and Sibiu 19 kg— all surpassing the national average. Teleorman, Alba, and Bihor counties have also reached values close to the national average, with over 16 kilograms collected per person.
A the other end of the top, all counties in the Moldova region are below the national average. Botoșani ranks the lowest with just 9.82 kg per capita, followed by Suceava, Vrancea, Bacău, Neamț, and Vaslui, each collecting about 11 kg per person.
Official data confirms that the SGR is currently Romania’s largest and most efficient circular economy mechanism. From its launch until the end of April 2025, Romanians have returned nearly 350,000 tons of packaging materials, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability and waste reduction.
