With the implementation of the Deposit Return System, good habits have created effects. Over half a billion packages have already been recycled through people's efforts. On June 11th, in a new episode of the "Pro Green Week" campaign, we talk about recycling and its benefits.

Recycling machines are almost always busy, especially on weekends. Many people collect dozens of containers in a few days.

Man: "I can't say exactly, around 20-30 PET bottles".

Man: "These are two weeks' worth, actually".

Reporter: "Two weeks per family, roughly how many containers?".

Man: "Oh, I don't know, we'll see now how many containers we have in two weeks. 48 containers".

Since the program started, over 570 million plastic, glass or metal containers have ended up in recycling bins instead of on the streets of Romania. If this amount had remained in nature, as it used to, it would have entirely covered the surface of Lake Vidraru, which spans nearly 9 square kilometers.

In May alone, nearly 300 million containers were collected - enough to circle the Earth twice.

The total weight of the returned containers has now reached approximately 40,000 tons. This is equivalent to over 33,000 small cars. Left in traffic, one behind the other, they would form a 150-kilometer line, the distance between Bucharest and Predeal.

Where habits take root, effects start to show. Near the village of Mureșenii Bârgăului in Bistrița-Năsăud, riverbanks that were once choked with PET bottles are now clean.

The owner of a local shop started collecting packages in bags, counting them and then handing them over to RETURO. And the method works.

Ioan Tomoroga, shop owner: "It works; at least people are involved in this whole story and are returning the containers and bottles".

On the other hand, in less than a month, a mountain of PET bottles has grown on the Ișalnița dam on the Jiu River. It will take years to clean up the place, environmental activists say. Most of the containers are old, without the Deposit Return System logo, so no one bothered to destroy them.

The good news is that many communities have understood the importance of recycling - not only because it brings financial benefits, but also because it ensures a cleaner environment.

At the entrance to the building, there's a sign that says "Love Home". Although built during communism in 1984, the interior of the block looks like new. Neighbors have given up paper, they recycle light bulbs and batteries, and the trash is collected selectively. For this, they also received a discount from the sanitation company. A few dozen lei, which go towards new improvements. All the work was done by the neighbors, before or after work.

Roxana Smaranda, resident: "The project was done by the son of one of the neighbors, who is an architect. Even the project for the elevator renovation, the interior cabin, was done by the work of a neighbor".

The money was collected through joint efforts - commercial spaces and banks were rented out on the ground floor of the block, and the funds obtained were used for interior improvements.

Roxana Smaranda, resident: "For people who use bicycles, there's a room at the ground floor of each stairwell. For a fee of 5 lei, approved last year, each person can leave their bicycle there".

The neighbors are now waiting for the block's renovation, especially since they plan to install photovoltaic panels.