“Within the Deposit-Return System (DRS), we have the role of providing technology that helps identify, store and compact the drink containers returned by consumers in stores. Last year was the first full year of DRS, a development stage from our point of view.

Any system has several stages of implementation and use. In 2024, we got used to the concept of DRS and how it works, for both retailers and consumers. The first stage was new for all the stakeholders, but together with the authorities and the DRS administrator, we came to help with our expertise of over 50 years that we have in the sector, as inventor of the first fully automated RVM,” Dorin Mihai, General Manager, TOMRA Collection Romania said at Retail Forward 2025 organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest.

Key statements:

• The DRS system offers transparency and brings sustainability to this market. 2025 will be a year of consolidation for the system in Romania. Most retailers have understood how the system works and how to calibrate their fleet of machines so that consumers benefit from easy access and quick return of containers in stores.
• We are approaching the milestone of 4 billion containers collected since the DRS system was lunched, which is an impressive result. In the last months of 2024, Romania exceeded an 80 percent collection rate, a target assumed for 2025. By consolidating the existing system and increasing the number of reverse vending machines (RVMs), we expect this collection rate to overpass the target.
• Our role is to automate collection where it doesn’t exist. Proximity is an important element for consumers, who doesn’t want to travel far to return their containers.
• To encourage containers’ return, things need to be very clearly defined by the DRS Administrator both for manual and automated collection. We see that each participating retailer assumes its role in the DRS for the proper operation of the RVMs so that customers experience flowless returning process.
• The market is getting in a mature stage, and consumers understand what DRS is. In November 2024, we introduced the second generation of bulk equipment on the market, which takes bulk containers, not just one container at a time. This is to support retailers to improve consumers experience and many more to come this year.