The Efficiency of the Deposit-Return System in Romania: A Statistical and Comparative Analysis

This study investigates the perception of the Romanian population regarding the Guarantee-Return System (GRS) using statistical analysis. We have used a structured questionnaire (both physically and electronically) to collect data from a representative sample of 604 respondents. The Chi-square statistical tests were used to evaluate the public acceptance and awareness of the system. Most of the respondents are receptive to GRS implementation, the questionnaire finds, citing key advantages such as increased recycling rates and environmental benefits. This study contributes to the existing literature on the matter by offering one of the first statistically representative assessments of the GRS in Romania. Potential biases in self-reported data and the focus on short-term perspectives might be included. The future research should explore the long-term impact of GRS on consumer behavior and economic sustainability. This paper aims to verify using statistical tools the research hypotheses regarding the perception of the Romanian population on the Guarantee-Refund System (GRS). The questionnaire aims to highlight the extent to which the Guarantee-Return System is known in Romania and the concrete way of achieving it optimally in the consumers’ view. The first stage of the research was aimed at establishing representative samples. The literature at the international and national levels is not very extensive, given the topic’s novelty. The questionnaire was applied both in physical format and by electronic means. The paper is one of the first statistically representative impact studies conducted in Romania regarding ways the population perceived the introduction of the Guarantee-Refund System.