War on garbage: A turnaround in the decision affecting over 215,000 people in Bucharest

A significant shift has occurred regarding the decision affecting over 215,000 residents of Sector 1 in Bucharest concerning the transition to a new waste management operator. Initially scheduled for July 1, 2026, this change has been postponed following a provisional decision by the Bucharest Tribunal. The administration of Sector 1 announced on Tuesday that the transition to the new service provider will be suspended until the court clarifies the legal status of the current contract. As a result, Romprest will remain in operation during this period, ensuring that public sanitation services continue without interruption.

The local government emphasized that nothing changes for the residents of Sector 1, whether they live in apartments or houses. Waste collection continues according to the existing schedule, and street cleaning remains unaffected by the ongoing legal dispute. For businesses and institutions, signing the new contract with Blue Planet has also been delayed until the court determines when the current contract with Romprest expires.

According to the communication released by the Sector 1 administration, companies and institutions that have already begun the process of entering into new contracts should be aware that these agreements do not yet produce legal effects because they are also suspended pending clarification from the court regarding the termination date of the current contract with Romprest.

The Sector 1 administration reminded everyone that it had contracted a transitional operator, valid for up to 12 months, to ensure that the sanitation service does not stop after July 1, 2026, which marks the end of the current contract with Romprest. This preparation aimed to maintain the continuity of public services during a time when the administration needed a functional solution for waste collection and street cleaning. It was noted that Blue Planet has not received any funds from the city budget since the services contracted have not even started. The priority during this period is to ensure uninterrupted sanitation in Sector 1 and prevent citizens from being affected by legal disputes between the parties involved.

This announcement comes after Romprest successfully obtained a suspension of the decision that would have changed the sanitation operator in court. The conflict between the Sector 1 City Council and Romprest dates back to February when the council mandated Mayor George Tuță to notify Romprest that the delegation contract for sanitation services, signed in 2008 for a period of 25 years, would expire on June 30, 2026.

The reason for the early termination of the contract is due to an investigation initiated in 2009 by the Competition Council regarding sanitation services in Bucharest. In Sector 1, it was found that the contract with Romprest did not clearly specify the investments the operator was required to make. According to Decision No. 58/2009 issued by the Competition Council, under these circumstances, the duration of the contract was disproportionately long, and it requested the Sector 1 City Council to annul the contract and restart the tendering process. Although this decision was contested in court, in 2012, the Sector 1 City Council entered into an additional agreement reducing the contract's duration by three years, with the possibility of further reduction by four more years if Romprest fails to construct a sorting station—required by the initial delegation contract—within one year of obtaining construction permits.

However, Romprest argues that Additional Agreement No. 6 is not currently in effect because the condition precedent outlined in this document has not been met, namely, "it produces legal effects only from the moment the Competition Council explicitly waives the right claimed in a case pending before the court." These statements were made by representatives of Romprest during a meeting of the City Council where the decision to terminate the contract was made.

Romprest further argued that if the Sector 1 City Council terminates the contract in June 2026, it will need to pay Romprest for the remaining years until the contract's expiration. This argument highlights the complex legal battle surrounding the contract's validity and the potential financial implications for both parties involved.