About us

In short, about ARSMD

The Romanian Association for Sanitation and Waste Management – the Sanitation Employers’ Association of Romania (ARSMD) is the representative employers’ organisation of the Romanian sanitation and waste management sector. Founded in 1999, ARSMD brings together the operators that deliver sanitation services and waste management nationwide, and represents their interests before public authorities, European institutions and international sector organisations.

Who we represent

ARSMD members are legal entities from across the waste management value chain:

• sanitation and waste management operators;
• companies specialised in separate collection, sorting, mechanical-biological treatment, recycling, incineration and landfilling;
• organisations implementing Extended Producer Responsibility obligations (EPR schemes / OIREP);
• manufacturers and distributors of machinery and specialised equipment for the waste management industry;
• organisations active in research, design and consultancy in waste management;

Member companies cover every region of Romania. Most are privately owned, and the public sector is represented as well.

Specialists and university academics contribute to the association’s professional work, without holding membership.

What we do

ARSMD pursues one constant objective: developing a high-performing waste industry that supports Romania’s transition to a circular economy built on economic efficiency, environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources.

• Institutional representation — we defend the sector’s position before Parliament, the Government, the line ministries and the regulatory authorities.
• Public policy contributions — we issue official positions, comments and proposals on draft legislation concerning sanitation and waste management.
• Expertise and knowledge — we provide members with analyses, interpretations of national and European legislation, and the exchange of good practice.
• Professional communication — we publish the quarterly magazine “Salubritatea și Managementul Deșeurilor” (Sanitation and Waste Management), dedicated exclusively to environmental and waste management matters and distributed to members, operators, municipalities, county councils and central authorities.
• Dialogue and events — we organise conferences, debates and working groups bringing together operators, authorities, academia and international partners.

European and international role

ARSMD is the ISWA National Member for Romania — the International Solid Waste Association being the leading international organisation dedicated to waste management.

Since 1 January 2026, ARSMD is a full member of FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, which represents the waste and environmental services industry before the institutions of the European Union.

Through these memberships, the Romanian sector takes part directly in European debates on the circular economy, extended producer responsibility, waste treatment and recycling, and gains access to international professional networks.

Milestones in the history of ARSMD

• 15 April 1999 — the National Committee for Sanitation, Hygiene and Urban Environmental Protection is founded, on the initiative of over 200 managers and specialists, research, design and higher education institutes, manufacturers of machinery, equipment, materials and sector technologies, as well as central and local legislative and administrative bodies. The Committee was set up following the split of the National Employers’ and Professional Association for Communal and Housing Services, established in 1990.
• May 2001 — the National Committee for Sanitation, Hygiene and Urban Environmental Protection changes its name to the Romanian Sanitation Association (A.R.S.).
• January 2002 — the first issue of the magazine “Salubritatea” is published.
• 2004 — A.R.S. becomes a National Member of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).
• 1 January 2007 — A.R.S. joins FEAD, the European Waste Management Association. The membership was approved unanimously by the FEAD Management Committee, meeting in Brussels on 25 January 2007, the application being supported by the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union.
• 25 April 2013 — A.R.S. and the Romanian Water Association (A.R.A.) establish the National Federation of Employers’ Associations in Community Public Utility Services in Romania (F.N.P.S.C.U.P.R.).
• 2014 — the magazine “Salubritatea” is renamed “Managementul Deșeurilor”.
• March 2015 — the Romanian Sanitation Association changes its name to the Romanian Association for Waste Management (A.R.M.D.), pursuant to the General Assembly decision of 4 September 2014, admitted by the Bucharest District 4 Court through Ruling no. 38 of 6 March 2015 (case no. 6901/4/2015).
• June 2024 — the magazine is renamed “Salubritatea și Managementul Deșeurilor”, to reflect more closely the profile of the employers’ association and the subjects it covers. The last issue published under the title “Managementul Deșeurilor” is no. 1 (89) / March 2024; the first issue under the new title is no. 2 / June 2024. On 19 June 2024 the National Library of Romania – National ISSN Centre assigns the publication the code ISSN 3045-2805.
• 1 January 2026 — after a period as an affiliate member, A.R.S.M.D. returns to full membership of FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, following the negotiations held in 2025 with the association’s leadership.

A.R.S.M.D. is a member of the Advisory Council of the National Regulatory Authority for Community Public Utility Services (A.N.R.S.C.).

Since April 2026 the association has been running a collaboration protocol with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, for the joint organisation of events and shared information and dialogue activities in the field of environmental protection and waste management.

As the employers’ and professional organisation of the sector, A.R.S.M.D. takes part in the working groups and consultations organised by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, by the Prime Minister’s Chancellery and by the specialised committees of Parliament, as well as in the public debates initiated by central and local authorities in the field of sanitation and waste management. The association is also present at national and European sector conferences.

Previously, A.R.S.M.D. took part, as a member, in the Monitoring Committee of the Sectoral Operational Programme Environment (POS Mediu) and in the Environment Sub-Committee of the Monitoring Committee of the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (POIM) — structures belonging to programming periods that have since closed.