Moldova is on the verge of a massive green reform in its waste management sector. National authorities have officially selected the Eco-Ret Moldova Association as the administrator for the highly anticipated national system of collateralized packaging (SDA – Deposit Return System). With the draft decision already reviewed during a meeting of state secretaries, it is now heading to the Cabinet of Ministers for final approval. The introduction of this massive national infrastructure, requiring an estimated initial investment of 15 to 20 million euros, is set to radically transform the country’s recycling market and is expected to launch at full capacity by early 2027.
The Race for Administration: Producers vs. Retailers
According to information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, the competitive contest to select the official administrator of the national Deposit Return System (DRS/SDA) received bids from two major consortiums: Eco-Ret Moldova and Moldreturo.
These two associations represented different dominant groups within the market. The winning bidder, Eco-Ret Moldova, is an association that includes the country’s major producers and importers of beverages. Its prominent corporate members include Efes Moldova, Carlsberg, Rusnac-MoldAqua, Gelibert, and AquaTrade. In contrast, the competing Moldreturo association primarily united retail chains, led by Moldretail, the operator of the country’s largest retail network, the Linella chain.
A Massive Logistical Operation in One Hand
The implementation of the returnable packaging system is not merely an administrative task; it represents the creation of a massive, nationwide logistical operation. Created within the legal framework of the Law on Waste, the operation and management of this entire infrastructure will be placed into the hands of the newly appointed administrator.
Throughout the course of this reform, a powerful and comprehensive network must be built from the ground up. This includes establishing thousands of packaging collection points, specialized processing centers, a centralized IT and accounting system, as well as a dedicated transport fleet and logistics network to handle the physical movement of the materials.
The Deposit Mechanism: 2 Lei for the Environment
The absolute key element of the collateralized packaging system—which will cover glass, metal, and plastic containers—is the introduction of a standard deposit of 2 lei (MDL).
This specific deposit is paid by the consumer at the point of sale when purchasing any goods that fall under the system. The regulations make it clear: this 2 lei surcharge does not constitute income for the seller or the system administrator. It remains the consumer’s money, which must be fully refunded to them when the empty package is returned to a designated collection point.
The “Polluter Pays” Principle in Practice
According to official estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture, the initial capital investment required for the successful launch of the SDA system could amount to 15 to 20 million euros. Based on the “polluter pays” principle, these substantial funds must come directly from the producers. Beverage manufacturers and importers are legally obliged to finance the creation of the entire infrastructure, ranging from the physical sorting centers to the digital accounting software and logistics fleet.
The draft project also outlines specific obligations for the retail sector, categorized by store size:
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Stores with an area of more than 150 square meters will be legally obliged to accept returnable containers manually or install automated reverse vending machines (taromats).
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Smaller retail outlets will have to organize manual acceptance of the containers.
To ensure the system does not place an undue burden on small businesses, the financial costs incurred by smaller retail outlets for manual collection will be covered by the suppliers and manufacturers.
Target Launch: January 2027
The organizers and national authorities expect the introduction of the SDA to drastically increase recycling rates across the country and fundamentally strengthen Moldova’s currently developing waste management system. According to the official timeline, the nationwide deposit return system must be officially launched no later than January 25, 2027.
Currently, the final decision rests with the Cabinet of Ministers. The official appointment of Eco-Ret Moldova as the administrator marks the crucial first stage in launching this transformative system on schedule.
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Original Article: Logos Press (April 16, 2026) – Money and garbage: Eco-Ret Moldova will be the administrator of the SDA