Premiere for the Republic of Moldova. Eight tons of mercury lamps exported to Romania for recycling
Approximately eight thousand kilograms of lighting lamps containing mercury were exported to Romania for safe recycling for the first time, according to Iulian Gamureac, the president of the authorized operator in the Republic of Moldova specialized in managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste. He shared this information during the "Zi de Zi" program on Radio Moldova. Gamureac noted that while the import of objects and devices containing mercury and their sale on the market have been prohibited since 2021, there are still historical stocks from previous decades that people keep in warehouses or discard improperly.
The export procedure for hazardous products and waste can be quite challenging, especially since we are not part of the European community. This experience of first-time export has motivated us to collect waste in larger volumes and assured us that we have a way to properly manage these types of waste. We can safely recycle them only at high-performance facilities that are authorized to handle such materials. These facilities are the largest in Eastern Europe and represent an investment of over eight billion euros,” explained Iulian Gamureac.
Gamureac also noted that citizens who possess hazardous items can drop them off at the 500 collection points managed by a specialized company. “Ideally, individuals should contact the mobile team of the recycling service based on the quantities they have. If a business is changing its lighting fixtures, they can call the mobile team. For individuals, we have more than 500 collection points nationwide where they can dispose of not only hazardous items but also household appliances, cables, batteries, tablets, and laptops. We provide solutions for all types of waste,” said Gamureac.
According to environmental authorities, there are still historical stocks that require the treatment of hazardous liquid mercury into mercury sulfide, along with its safe transportation to the final disposal site. Currently, the Republic of Moldova lacks the technologies needed for mercury treatment. In some households or businesses, electrical and electronic devices containing mercury, such as laptop screens, thermostat monitors, barometers, ironing machines, heaters, and clothes dryers, are still present. These devices must be handed over to a specialized company for safe recycling, helping to protect both the environment and human health.
