The inflow of rubbish can be eliminated, waste removal structures to be installed on rivers

River-cleaning structures will be installed in 12 locations in Romania along the Romanian-Hungarian border to prevent future pollution of Hungarian rivers. In recent years, a significant amount of plastic and other types of debris have been discharged into Hungarian rivers from neighbouring countries, but new structures can help preserve water purity.

In the coming months, experts from the Romanian Ministry of the Environment will assess where to install special structures that stop water bottles and other types of floating river waste, from passing further.

In recent years, huge amounts of debris have floated into Hungary on rivers. During his visit to Oradea, Romanian Environment Minister Barna Tánczos recalled that in his most recent visit to Hungary, he agreed with his negotiating partners that Romania would take concrete steps to prevent further pollution, the Hungarian News Agency MTI reported.

Following the designation of the 12 sites, the public procurement procedure for the feasibility study is expected to be launched later this year, and the Romanian government will finance the construction of these structures. With the support of the Dutch embassy, Romania has already installed waste removal facilities, using their experience to extend the river cleaning system to the entire border section.

In early July, President János Áder wrote a letter to the President of the European Commission with the observation that large amounts of plastic and other waste are flowing into Hungary on the Tisza and Somes rivers. In his letter, President Áder reminded Ursula von der Leyen that he had previously asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Romanian President Klaus Johannis to use their power to stop the pollution.

In the neighbouring country, it is not just plastics that pose a threat to river habitats. In January 2000, 100,000 cubic metres of wastewater contaminated with cyanide and heavy metals was discharged into the River Lapus, and then into the Somes and Tisza rivers metals from the facility of the Aurul mining company in Baia Mare. This was not the last case of this kind, as heavy metal pollution has reached the lower sections of rivers this year as well – even if the level of pollution was much lower than two decades earlier.

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