Eight metallic dumpsters for the collection of large e-waste will be installed in Chisinau as part of the project “Clean city with recycled e-waste”. The collectors will be installed on the premises of fuel stations, in places easily accessible by car. These eight collectors will complete the list of 71 collection points for small and medium e-waste already installed in Chisinau, IPN reports.

 

According to Aurelia Bahnaru, head of the Association for Salvaging Waste and manager of project, the eight new collectors are meant for TV sets, fridges, washing machines and other large equipments. As regards the smaller e-waste collection points, Aurelia Bahnaru explained that the waste is sorted by an operator, then sent abroad for correct recycling, without illegal storage or contamination of the water and soil, as Moldova lacks the necessary infrastructure. The project involves schools, markets and public institutions. The organizers want to find 10 more institutions to join the project.

 

Svetlana Bolocan, head of the waste and chemicals management division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, thinks the most import part of the project is communication and awareness. Local companies ought to understand they should be the ones collecting this kind of waste. Moldova lacks a mechanism for e-waste recycling and this is instead done in Romania or other countries. Export costs are lower than opening a plant for the final processing of e-waste here, especially considering the non-continuous character of e-waste generation and collection.

 

Denis Parea, national coordinator at the Small Grants Programme of the Global Environment Facility, said the recycling rate in Moldova is about 10%, while the law sets a target of 30%. “Storing waste is harmful. It is the worst way of disposing of e-waste. Unfortunately, today there is a lot of waste being stored in Moldova”, said Parea.

The project “Clean city with recycled e-waste” was launched in 2018 and will end in 2020. It has a budget of $42,000.