Depositing a ton of waste in Romania costs between EUR 12 and EUR 21, much lower than in Germany – EUR 80 and in Austria – EUR 60.

“If anyone rejoices the fact we have not joined the Schengen area, it's the waste collection industry,” said Florin Cepanaru, director of RETIM Timisoara, a company which collects waste. The company is half owned by the Timisoara Municipality and by a German shareholder.

The city of Timisoara generates 150,000 tonnes of waste a year, and half of what is collected are used for biogas.

RETIM's waste – to - biogas project is worth some EUR 12 million, according to Cepanaru, who attended an environment conference in Bucharest. The project started in 2009 and will end in three years.

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