Specialișts demand construction of enterprise for recycling waste in Moldova

Chisinau, 21 July /MOLDPRES/ - The employers’ association in the field of collection and processing of waste supports the construction of an enterprise for e-recycling of waste in Moldova. And this after, according to a study, tens of thousands of tons of e-waste is annually generated in the country. A part of this waste reaches dumpsters, causing the elimination of dangerous chemical substances in air, water and soil.     

According to the head of the aforementioned association, Vitalie Rusu, ‘’this is an extremely important thing, which can no longer be postponed.’’ ‘’The construction of such an object in Moldova would help us a lot. People will easier understand the need of the recycling of these types of waste, when they will be able to see for themselves how this systems works and will understand its benefits,’’ Rusu noted.   

The danger of the e-waste comes from its chemical composition, as it may contain hard metals (Hg, Cd, Pb), toxic gas (freon) or non-biodegradable materials (plastic, glass, metals) with significant effects on the environment and the health, if they are not managed correctly.

„For instance, the cathode-ray tube of a TV set can pollute about 50 square metres during 30 years, containing such materials as aluminium, lead, zinc, nickel, manganese, barium and cobalt. Fridges contain chloro-fluorine-carbides and trigger the deterioration of the ozone layer and the diminution of the Earth’s capacity to be protected from the noxious sun rays. The phones contain hard and rare metals. Being such dangerous, this waste must not reach trash holes, but be separately collected and properly recycled,’’    a chief specialist at the Environment Agency, Denis Macovschi, said.    

On the other hand, 70 per cent of the electronic waste’s components can be recovered through collection and recycling.

According the regulation on the waste of electric and electronic equipment, approved under government decision in 2018, the electric and electronic equipment is subject to the principle of extended responsibility of producers, which means that those who introduce or place electric and electronic equipment on market, are obliged to collect and manage it till the moment of its recycling or turning to account.    

There are no authorized enterprises for the recycling of electronic waste in Moldova; all this waste is exported to enterprises from abroad. Specialists say that the appearance of such an enterprise depends on the intention of the private environment.  

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