The presentation focuses on waste management policies and on extended producer responsibility (EPR) in Moldova. It was delivered at the meeting on "Economic instruments for greener products in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia" (EaP GREEN).

1. Design of EPR for priority product
groups in Moldova
Tatiana TUGUI, EPPO manager
tel. 373 22 22 45 42, email: tatiana.tugui@eppo.md

2. Waste management policy
 National Strategy on Waste management, approved on 7.03.2013
by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, published in
Official Monitor on 10.04.2013.
 Strategic Vision: to develop until 2027 an integrated waste
management system which would be economically efficient and
would assure the protection of human health and environment.

3. Strategic goal and objectives
The strategy aims to promote a new way of
household waste collection, recovery of re-usable
materials, which would contribute to the decrease in
the amount of disposed waste.
The general objectives of the strategy are:
 Harmonize the legal, institutional and regulatory
framework with the EU standards based on regional
approach (8 waste management regions).
 Build regional infrastructure for MSW landfills and
transfer stations
 Develop collection systems and treatment of specific
waste flows (packaging, WEEE, tires, batteries, etc.) by
promoting and implementing the principle of producer
responsibility, including hazardous waste (medical, oils,
etc.), with one collection point per region

4. Implemented and ongoing projects on
WEEE management
 Slovak Aid Programme support:
 “Introduction of Environmentally Sound
Management of Waste from Electrical and
Electronic Equipment”, 10/2011 – 09/2012
 Analysis of current situation in Moldova and preparing a
database of producers/importers of EEE
 Technical and legal proposals for WEEE management in
Moldova
 Awareness raising among stakeholders
 “Strengthening capacities for building
environmentally sound management with E-waste
in the Republic of Moldova”, 09/2013 - 09/2014

5. Current WEEE management
 EEE import to Moldova was officially about 3.4 kg/person (2009)
 Adding Transnistria, this figure reaches 4.5 kg/person.

6. Extended Producer Responsibility
 Producer is able to influence
 Product design
 Hazardous material content
 Consumer behaviour
 Producer is responsible for
 Collection
 Treatment
 Recovery and recycling of waste
 Producer is obliged to
 Set up waste collection system
 Set up system for WEEE treatment using BAT
 To support financially collection and treatment system
 Producer can fulfil obligation
 Individually or
 Collectively as a member of the compliance scheme

7. Proposed models for WEEE
management
 Model I – centralised system
 Model II – extended producer responsibility
 Technical solutions
 Legal frame (EPR obligations, financial tools,
information tools, control measures, system of
punishment).
 Waste Management Plan

8. Model I Centralised System
 Establishment by law of a non-profit state institution – centre
for WEEE management, controlled by the government
(Ministry of Environment).
 The WEEE Centre would bear all costs of WEEE collection,
treatment and other expenses connected with WEEE system.
 Financing by producers (importers) of EEE
 Contribution = weight of EEE put on the market x rate
 Rate = A + B + C
A = costs of WEEE collection, transport and treatment
B = labour and operational costs of the WEEE Centre
C = other expenses (information campaigns, IT support, etc.)

9. Model II – Extended Producer
Responsibility
 Producers (importers) of EEE (individually or by
joining collective schemes) would be responsible for
collection, recycling and recovery as well as
financing of WEEE management.
 Agreement to be signed between producers
(importers) and municipalities on choice of collection
system, terms, places and financing of WEEE
collection.
 Producers (importers) will be responsible for
providing take-back system in selling points.
 Producers (importers) of EEE (individually or
through collective schemes) will communicate with
distributors who handle WEEE.
 The role of the government is limited to monitoring
(of invoices, weight certificates, bills of delivery, etc.)
and enforcement

10. Model II – EPR Collective schemes
 Collective schemes would be non-profit private
companies established by producers (importers)
of EEE on a voluntary basis.
 The conditions of establishment of collective
schemes can be regulated by law.
 Collective schemes would meet all requirements
put on producers (importers) of EEE: separate
collection; recycling, recovery and disposal,
record-keeping and reporting, registration in the
Register of Producers.

11. Enforcement and control of EPR

12. Conclusions – Model I
 Model I can be established very quickly after
decision of parliament and could be effective
during the first years of implementation
 Financial sources would be accumulated in one place
and money would be distributed to most complicated
areas.
 After a few years of implementation, the WEEE
Centre could start to impede the development of
infrastructure and the market.
 Decisions of a central body are not usually based
on market needs but on short-term priorities of
the government, not leading to long-term
sustainability.

13. Conclusions – Model II
 Model II is based on the free-market idea when
all obligations are put on producers (importers)
of EEE and represents a sustainable solution for
the long term.
 Producers can influence EEE design and
production in order to simplify WEEE treatment.
 Unlike a centralised system, Model II does not
influence the waste market negatively and leads
to building of sustainable waste management
infrastructure based on real needs.
 However, is not very effective during the first
years of implementation.

14. Progress made and next steps for EPR
implementation in Moldova
 Preliminary regulatory impact assessment (RIA)
was accepted by the government on 5 February
2014
 Adoption of amended framework Law on Waste
 Preparing transposition of Directive 2012/19/EU
 Drafting a regulation on WEEE and preparing a
final RIA
 To draft TOR for soft development on information
system on waste management, including an EPR
Register

15. Thank you for your attention!
Tel/fax. (+ 373 22) 22 25 42
E-mail: tuguitatiana@ymail.com