The European Commission announced that it would send Romania reasoned opinions for alleged infringements of EU landfill and waste law involving the failure to remediate tailings ponds from the copper and zinc mining industry and a number of non-compliant landfills.
Calling the ponds "a major source of toxic dust, which has significant consequences for human health and the environment", the Commission explained that it was concerned that Romania had failed to take the measures necessary to control emission from the ponds at Moldova Noua and to prevent the sites from being abandoned. The Commission first initiated infringement proceedings with regard to the ponds in October of 2012.
The second reasoned opinion was intended to encourage the member state to act more quickly to shut down 19 landfills that continue to operate in breach of EU waste and landfill legislation, said the Commission.
