Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. EU Commission warns Romania over landfill waste management

EU Commission warns Romania over landfill waste management

March 6, 2024

Romania received a warning on Wednesday for failing to fully comply with the Landfill and Waste Framework Directives despite having already been fined by the European Court of Justice in December, euractiv.com informs.   According to the Commission, Romania has successfully closed and rehabilitated 92 landfills and plans to address five more by 2026-2028. However, the situation for four others remains uncertain despite ambitious targets to send less than 10% of municipal solid waste generated to landfills by 2035.   Environment, Water and Forests Minister Mircea Fechet has stressed the urgency of closing or rehabilitating at least 31 hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste sites to avoid EU fines. During a site visit to Sofert Bacau, a 16-hectare dangerous waste landfill in north-eastern Romania, Fechet highlighted the daily fines of €18,000 incurred by this site alone, which has been storing hazardous phosphogypsum industrial waste since communist times.   Today, a significant amount of recyclable material still ends up in landfills rather than in factories, while Romania is still unable to control waste imports, the minister said in an earlier statement.   On 14 December, the EU Court of Justice (CJEU) imposed a fine of €1.5 million on Romania, along with daily penalties of €600, for delays in closing non-compliant waste dumps.   The CJEU noted that the failure to fulfil obligations has lasted more than four years since 2018, described as “a considerable duration”. In addition, the CJEU pointed to “a significant risk of pollution and serious consequences for human health, in particular through the release of harmful chemicals into soil, air and water”.  

Read in full - click here
Unidentified man stole three amputated legs from Bucharest hospital, one still missing

On Monday, January 13, officials at the Cantacuzino Hospital in Bucharest alerted police that a man stole three amputated legs from the storage area. While two were later found, the third is still missing. The incident took place three days prior, on January 10, and was captured by surveillance cameras. Images published by Euronews Romania […]

Former Romanian president, PM charged again with crimes against humanity in 1990 miners’ riot case

The General Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday, January 15, that criminal prosecution has been initiated again against former president Ion Iliescu and ex-prime minister Petre Roman in the case targeting the violent crackdown of the protests in Bucharest's University Square on June 13-15, 1990, also known as the Mineriada (miners' riot). The two are facing […]

Survey: Majority of Romanian employees aim to change jobs in the next 6 months

Approximately 62% of employees in Romania intend to change their workplace in the next six months largely due to financial reasons, according to a survey conducted by the online recruitment platform Bestjobs. Approximately 48% of respondents intend to change their workplace because they want a better salary, 13% due to a lack of professional development […]

Roborock launches Roborock Qrevo Curv, the next generation of smart home cleaning with AI technology and pet-friendly features

Roborock, a global leader in intelligent cleaning solutions, announces the launch of its latest innovation, the Roborock Qrevo Curv, a state-of-the-art robot vacuum and mop designed to redefine home cleaning. This revolutionary product combines cutting-edge technology with an innovative cleaning system to offer an unparalleled cleaning experience for consumers. "Roborock Qrevo Curv represents a new […]

Bucharest will adopt ‘Icelandic model’ to prevent drug use among youths, mayor says

Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan announced that his administration will draw inspiration from the Icelandic model to combat and prevent drug use among young people.  The mayor also stated that building a medical facility dedicated to those struggling with addiction is being considered, using spaces belonging to Colentina or Obregia hospitals.  “As Bucharest residents decided through a […]

Watch: Romanian firefighters rescue young deer from icy water

A young deer trapped in the icy waters of a pond near Fălticeni, Suceava county, was recently saved by a team of firefighters.  According to the Emergency Situations Inspectorate, which shared a short video of the rescue mission, the fawn had attempted to cross the frozen pond, but the thin ice cracked beneath its weight, […]