Romania's deposit return system collects 2.4 billion beverage containers in H1 2026

27 July 2026 The Deposit Return System SGR collected more than 2.4 billion beverage containers in the first half of 2026, while its collection rate rose to 82%, according to figures released by system administrator RetuRO. The rate was three percentage points higher than in the same period last year. Between January and June, consumers returned over 2.4 billion eligible beverage containers through the system. Bucharest recorded the highest number of returns, with 331.3 million containers, followed by the counties of Ilfov (117 million), Timiș (107.2 million), Cluj (101.1 million), and Constanța (100.4 million). RetuRO said the system's collection infrastructure now covers 92% of Romanian localities with more than 1,500 inhabitants and 74% of those with more than 200 inhabitants, expanding