International conference for sustainable waste management in Romania. The aim of the conference was to start a dialogue and a debate on the role of the informal sector in the solid waste management in Romania and the challenges they face in the process of modernization. The formal sector was represented by the waste management companies which are operating nowadays in Romania, while the informal sector was represented by the persons or groups which are working next to the formal sector for selective waste collection, recycling or any other activity related to waste management. Besides these, an important group of stakeholders was represented by the policy makers and the waste management planners, such as: the Romanian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the County Councils of Romania and the Local Councils.