Environmental services company Clean R in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) and 20 industry representatives have launched the European Union (EU) LIFE Programme integrated project Waste as a Resource in Latvia – Promoting Regional Sustainability and Circulation by Implementing the Waste as a Resource Concept. The project provides Clean R with funding for 6 activities to improve IT systems, construction and research in the waste management sector. The project is implemented with the financial support of the EU Environment and Climate Programme LIFE and the State Regional Development Agency until 31 December 2028 and will cover the entire territory of Latvia, promoting the implementation of circular economy principles and the concept of waste as a resource.
The overall objective – to improve the waste management sector and reduce waste generation
The main objective of integrated projects of the LIFE programme is to reduce waste generation through a range of activities that would significantly improve the recovery and circulation of materials and reduce the carbon footprint of the economy. In the project, Clean R is working to organise the field of construction waste, promote separate waste collection, implement the measures set out in the national Waste Management Plan for 2021-2028 and reduce the amount of landfilled waste. EU directives require the amount of waste to be landfilled to be reduced to 10% of the total amount of municipal waste generated by 2035.
In total, Clean R will spend EUR 700,427 on the implementation of the projects, of which 10% (EUR 70,043) will be Clean R funding, EUR 420,256 will be EU LIFE funding and EUR 210,128 will be state budget co-financing from the administration of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund, the State Regional Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.
Technology-based solutions
As part of the LIFE Integrated Project, Clean R plans to develop a mobile app for disposal of construction waste. Customers will be able to register containers, bigbags and small construction waste in the app, with the additional possibility to track service delivery and volumes.
A single waste accounting system is planned, linked to the new Waste Transportation Accounting System. Clean R has invested in the development of sustainability and corporate governance, improving the efficiency of service delivery and increasing customer satisfaction by introducing modern IT solutions that help to effectively develop remote and self-service options.
Construction waste management will be organised by establishing a construction waste exchange point
A large part of the waste generated today is made up of construction materials from demolition, road repairs and various dismantling activities. The LIFE project funding would enable Clean R to improve the management of construction waste by establishing an exchange point for construction waste and unused construction materials at the construction waste disposal and recycling centre Nomales, educating residents with interactive solutions, and providing practical demonstrations of the further use of sorted construction waste.
Clean R’s intention, in cooperation with the Riga Municipality, is for this type of construction materials to be fully used also in households that have limited means to carry out repairs and purchase construction materials.
Within the framework of the project, a modern sample site for accepting sorted waste will be created. Separate collection and management systems for bio-waste and a textile collection system will be set up and demonstrated there. Clean R will demonstrate the possibilities of the underground and other container waste management system at the site on 5 Vietalvas Street, as well as deposit machines and an exchange point for electrical goods. It is planned that at the end of the project, the sorted waste site at 5 Vietalvas Street will be the most modern in Latvia and will be equipped with innovative solutions not seen elsewhere.
In-depth industry research towards problem solving
To improve waste management planning and to fully understand how to identify and tackle problems, an in-depth study of the construction waste sector is needed, which is possible with funding from the European Union’s LIFE programme.
Clean R has committed to carry out a study of the construction waste system in the private person segment in Latvia and abroad by 31 December 2022. Such a study would help to identify the best solutions to the system’s problems and to develop a flowchart to determine the suitability of construction waste for recycling.
Once the problems have been identified, a package of proposals will be drawn up to guide the proposed amendments to the legislation, taking into account the sectoral issues. Concluding with recommendations, this activity is planned to be implemented by 30 April 2023.