Recycling development, overview and challenges for environment protection in România [articol]

Abstract

The developing countries are facing huge challenges in the waste management sector. Romania in particular is still making transition steps to meet the European Union regulation regarding the waste management activities and regarding recycling practices. Current waste management practice have led to many environmental challenges: resources become depleted and end up as waste and emissions. The lack of adequate infrastructure to manage wastes safely leads to these wastes being buried, burnt in the open air or dumped into surface water bodies. One of the key strategies to overcome these problems is using waste as a resource, evolving toward a circular economy as an alternative to a linear economy. To accomplish this transition, suitable indicators are needed to adequately evaluate the recycling degree for useful materials whilst taking into account the technical reality. A proper evaluation of the reality faced is essential when dealing with waste management in the light of the present situation of waste into the developing countries and the lack of basic or state-of-the-art recycling and waste disposal facilities. Change in attitude by governments, appropriate legislation and transfer of recycling technology of wastes are the key issues in effective management of wastes.