Changes to the environment legislation

The Romanian authorities adopted a series of measures relating to waste management.

Corina Cristea, 07.04.2022, 13:50

At the proposal of the ministry of the environment, waters and forests, the government has adopted an emergency order containing measures to improve the efficiency of waste management.

One of the main provisions is the criminalisation of activities with a significant impact on the environment, air quality and peoples health. Burning and burying waste are considered crimes and are punishable with jail time from 3 to 5 years. Moreover, the law now defines waste abandonment, which is punishable with fine, both in the case of private individuals and companies, but which was not properly applied due to the absence of clear regulation.

The debate on the criminalisation of these deeds is not new, said environment minister Tanczos Barna, who believes a fine is not enough, but that those responsible should face criminal accountability. Burning waste has become widespread and the authorities in charge of implementing the law need strong instruments to be able to combat this phenomenon, the minister explained. He added that prosecutors offices around the country, the police and the Environment Guard now have at their disposal a legal framework to put a stop to the mafia of illegal burning of waste in Romania.

The new legislation also bans the burning of crop residue, peatland and leaf beds in forests, reed, shrubbery and grassy vegetation. These deeds are now punishable with fines ranging from 7,000 lei to 15,000 lei in the case of private persons and from 50,000 to 100,000 lei in the case of businesses. The same penalties are faced by land owners who do not take measures to prevent burning.

Another important provision of the new emergency order defines the legal framework allowing public local authorities to expropriate the needed land for integrated waste management. The legislative change makes it easier to take over the land needed to develop integrated waste management systems, for which Romania receives European funding.

Last but not least, the new order adopted by the government aims to regulate waste management in the capital Bucharest, which is faced with a complicated situation owing to the lack of infrastructure for waste treatment and waste elimination through storage. (CM)