News

Today was the end of the three-day monitoring visit of the LIFE Waste to Resources IP project, which took place from 29 to 31 August on the premises of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) and at the project partners implementing pilot projects. Purpose of the monitoring visit was to inform the monitoring team, which supervises the implementation progress and course of the projects funded by the European Commission's LIFE Programme.

The meeting was opened with warm words of reunion by Ms Rudīte Vesere, Director of the Environmental Management Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. Ms Inta Dūce, Technical Monitor of ELMEN EEIG, introduced herself and informed about the tasks and purpose of the monitoring visit. The meeting was continued by LIFE Waste to Resources IP Project Manager Alice Vecozola, who reported on the progress of the project and commented on the issues that arose after the 2nd monitoring visit. Each partner responsible for an activity gave a presentation on the implementation of the activity over the last year and a half (from 1 November 2021 to 30 June 2023).

The second day of the monitoring visit continued with a question and answer session on the project's financial issues with Ms Veronika Krecek Ticha, Ernst & Young's financial monitor. The presentation on the financial performance indicators of the project was delivered by Ms Solvita Studāne, coordinator of the LIFE Waste to Resources IP project. The financial part of the project progress report - the reports submitted by the partners - was discussed, answering questions on supporting documents for costs.

Whereas, the final day of the monitoring visit was spent at three sites of the project demonstrations or pilot activities. The areas where practical works were carried out were visited - the LLC (SIA) "Nordic Plast" polymer materials testing laboratory in Olaine; the LLC (SIA) "Clean R" construction waste reuse and material exchange pilot project “Nomales” at Rumbula, Ropaži Municipality. The visit concluded with a visit to one of the ten "Don't lie in the garbage!" campaign's developed educational and interactive stands at Daugavgrīva beach.

Three days full of content allowed to look back at the project. A large amount of work has been done within the project, aimed at change in people's habits, their education and implementation of new practical pilot projects to demonstrate that waste is a resource that, if managed wisely, can be brought back into the mainstream.

We would like to thank the monitoring team for their support, questions and suggestions, and the project partners for their active participation!