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On November 21, 2024, a seminar was held at the Ministry of Climate and Energy on waste composition measurements in Latvia, presenting current data on the composition of mixed household waste and separately collected waste. The seminar also provided information on preliminary data regarding food waste generated in 2024, as well as the pilot project on the separate collection of food and biodegradable waste in households conducted in 2023. Over 100 representatives from environmental, waste management, municipal, and industry organizations attended the seminar to learn about the latest research findings in waste management.

The seminar presented the results of three studies – the study "Determination of Household Waste Composition" by Ltd Geo Consultans, the study "Determination of Food Waste Generation" by Riga Stradiņš University in cooperation with Ltd Jaunrades Laboratory, and the study "Food Waste Separate Collection Pilot Project in 2023" by the Latvian Waste Management Association.

The seminar was opened by the Deputy State Secretary for Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Climate and Energy, Dr. Rudīte Vesere, who pointed out that "waste is created in nature, and nature successfully manages it on its own, but humans still need to learn how to responsibly and effectively manage their waste."

Kaspars Kļavenieks, a representative of Ltd Geo Consultants, presented the study on household waste composition in Latvia in 2024. The goal of the study was to assess the morphological composition of household waste flows – mixed household waste at the point of origin, sorted household waste at the point of origin, waste flows after processing at sorting lines, and the composition of battery and accumulator waste – and compare the results with the findings from the 2016 study, which was the previous study of this kind conducted in Latvia. The study included an analysis of waste composition in all waste management regions of Latvia, as well as in specific cities – Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Valmiera, and Tukums. Both mixed and sorted waste composition were analyzed, studying eighteen different fractions, including biodegradable waste. The results of the 2024 study were compared with the 2016 data, and it was concluded that the composition of mixed household waste by fraction had not changed significantly. The most notable change was observed in paper and cardboard packaging waste, which increased by 6% in the composition of household waste, while the volume of other waste fractions changed by an average of around 2%, which is considered insignificant. However, it was noted that since the previous study, the total amount of waste and the amount of separately collected waste, including the introduction of a deposit system, have increased in the country. These study results are very important as they provide the opportunity to compare changes over the years, predict changes in the volume of various waste fractions, and improve the effectiveness of waste sorting and management.

Elīna Dāce, a researcher at Riga Stradiņš University, presented the methodology for determining the amount of food waste generated and the preliminary results of data collection in 2024. The goal of data acquisition, recording, and reporting is to obtain quantitative data on the amount of food waste generated in Latvia in 2024 at each stage of the food supply chain, in order to assess progress towards achieving food waste prevention goals. Data collection is still ongoing within the study, targeting grain producers, dairy farmers, egg producers, fruit and berry growers, vegetable growers, aquaculture companies, food and beverage manufacturers, retail and wholesale stores and bases, hospitality establishments (hotels, guesthouses, etc.), food service institutions and companies (canteens, restaurants, cafes, etc.), households of various sizes and income levels across all regions of Latvia, as well as donation organizations and other food distribution points. The researcher noted that the response rate from the contacted respondents was low, but the outreach and data collection will continue until the end of this year. The necessary number of respondents has been reached in the primary production and household sectors. The first collected data shows that food waste in households amounts to 3.6 kg per week per household. In 70.2% of cases, this is food residue or inedible food parts, in 20.7% of cases, it is spoiled products during storage, and in 5.6% of cases, it is food that was bought in excess and not eaten, ending up as waste. Additionally, 0.6 kg of the total household waste generated per week is directed to the sewer, and 3.0 kg is managed in other ways.

The LIFE program project "Waste as a Resource in Latvia" is one of the tools to reduce waste generation through practical measures, promote the reuse of resources, improve waste flow control, reduce environmental impact, and decrease the carbon footprint of the economy. Therefore, the project partner of the LIFE program, the "Latvian Waste Management Association," represented by Rūta Bendere, presented the implemented pilot project, which aims to demonstrate solutions for reducing biological and food waste and improving food waste measurements.

To achieve this goal, in 2022, composting practices were initiated in two pilot locations, Liepāja and Preiļi, with 68 and 32 households respectively, receiving composting containers purchased within the project. This allowed households to more easily separate food waste, reduce its amount, and promote waste recycling, while also conducting measurements and drawing conclusions about the effective execution of the process and any obstacles or difficulties in implementing composting at the household level. Composting is an effective solution for managing organic waste at its source, reducing the volume of waste. At the same time, compost can be used as a soil improver.

A pilot project was also implemented in Riga, where organic waste was collected from households in multi-apartment buildings, tracking the volume of waste and assessing the effectiveness of the organic waste management process. The measurements taken during the pilot project show that, on average, each resident in Riga generates 52 kg of food waste per year, while in Liepāja and Preiļi, the amounts are 42 kg and 41 kg, respectively.

According to the authors of the pilot project, to reduce waste volumes and increase the separate collection of organic waste, it is necessary to strengthen the knowledge and skills of the population. With public education, state and municipal support, and new technological solutions, positive changes and shifts in behavior can be encouraged. To reduce the volume of generated waste and improve the efficiency of waste separation, closer cooperation is needed among all involved parties, including the state, municipalities, businesses, and residents.

With improved data collection mechanisms, more effective public education measures, and the development of waste sorting infrastructure, it will be possible to significantly reduce the amount of unsorted household waste and promote its efficient recycling.

Seminar presentations in Latvian:

Results of the study "determining the Composition of Household Waste"

Methodology for Determining the Amount of Food Waste and Preliminary Data Collection Results for 2024

Results of the 2023 Food Waste Separate Collection Pilot Project within the LIFE project "Waste to resources IP"

The seminar recording is available in Latvian:here.