Brașov industrial and waste management developments

In Brașov, Romania, recent administrative actions have addressed both industrial environmental authorizations and waste management infrastructure.

The Brașov County Environmental Directorate issued permits for two major industrial operations. Silnef Metal Casting in Codlea received authorization for smelting and alloying non-ferrous metals, including the processing of metal waste into aluminum alloy products. Additionally, Romcim obtained permission for cement clinker production in Hoghiz, which includes activities for waste recovery and co-incineration.

Concurrently, the Brașov County administration has moved forward with the Integrated Waste Management System (SMID) project. The procurement process for consultancy and technical assistance, valued at approximately 8,409,000 lei, has received three bids from Ramboll South East Europe, EPMC Consulting, and an association led by Ernst & Young and the Energy and Environment Consulting Company. This support is intended to coordinate funding and implementation via the Sustainable Development and Just Transition Program 2021-2027.

The broader SMID initiative is a project valued at over 185 million euros, aiming to reduce the county’s landfill dependency from nearly 90% to approximately 10–15% through new sorting, treatment, and composting facilities. Planned sites include integrated treatment at Măieruș, a sorting center at Părău, and a transfer station at Hoghiz.

Despite obtaining environmental permits and passing reviews by JASPERS and the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, the project faces legal hurdles. Public administrator Zoltan Szenner noted that lawsuits have been filed regarding the Măieruș and Părău sites, and the Părău Local Council has reportedly withdrawn support for the association contract. The administration aims to apply for over 125 million euros in European funds by December 31, 2026, with a target completion date of 2030.