The Study on packaging waste management in the Republic of Moldova assesses the performance of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for packaging and identifies the steps needed to align it with European Union requirements. The report finds that the Republic of Moldova already has the essential elements of a functioning system in place, including a basic legal framework, operational collective schemes and an emerging separate collection infrastructure. However, progress towards achieving collection and recycling targets remains limited.

The analysis highlights that the main challenges relate not only to the regulatory framework, but also to system governance, institutional capacity, the limited coverage of separate collection services, and the high level of non-compliance with EPR obligations. At the same time, the study emphasizes that there are favourable conditions for improvement through stronger audit and verification mechanisms, the development of collection and sorting infrastructure, the integration of the informal sector, and the effective use of planned investments under the regional waste management framework.

The report concludes that the system has stronger foundations than an assessment of its shortcomings alone might suggest, and that achieving compliance with European standards is attainable through a combination of legislative reforms, governance improvements, and strategic investments. The study provides practical recommendations for developing a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable system capable of supporting environmental objectives and the Republic of Moldova’s EU accession process.

The study was developed within the project “Enabling an Inclusive Green Transition in the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Moldova.