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According to a survey conducted by Norstat Latvia*, a third of people in Latvia would never buy used electrical appliances. Although buying devices second-hand can save money and help protect the environment, there is still a lot of scepticism about it. So in March, the ‘Eco Baltia vide’ environmental management company, working together with ‘Latvijas Zaļais punkts’, Maxima Latvija, and Tet, launches the ‘Dod iespēju laboties’ (‘Give a Chance to Get Better’) campaign seeking to adjust these attitudes among the general public. Its purpose is to educate and change perceptions about buying, repairing, and using second-hand devices, and to remind people of disposing of electrical goods in a responsible manner.

Only 13% of the survey’s respondents reported thinking about environmental aspects, including saving of resources, indicating that it is not a common motivation among the public. Women (16%) considered this almost twice as often as men did (9%).

‘People getting rid of electrical appliances too eagerly even with insignificant damage and their scepticism about buying second-hand devices raises serious concerns rising quantities of electrical waste and its negative impact on the environment. Thousands of tonnes of electrical waste are generated in Latvia every year, and many of these devices could be refurbished and used again, for a long time. Repairing and reusing second-hand electrical goods can help reduce waste, and save resources. A responsible attitude towards the way we treat electrical goods is also a commitment towards the environment and our future generations. Of course, there is also the question of how sustainable modern electrical appliances are, whether they can be repaired and if they are designed to be repaired in the first place,’ Jānis Aizbalts, ‘Eco Baltia vide’ board chairman said.

More than half of the respondents (57%) supported buying more expensive devices with a higher reparability index. This shows that a part of our society, especially young people, are willing to invest in more sustainable alternatives, reducing the negative impact on the environment and extending the service life of these appliances. Buying more expensive devices is less relevant for older people.

In many cases, people would consider buying a second-hand appliance if it were available at a better price: this is what 32% of the respondents reported. Men and younger people believe more often that lower price is an argument in favour of buying used.

About one in five (23%) would consider buying a second-hand device if they needed it for a short period. Slightly fewer (22%) reported that whenever they bought second-hand, it would be important for them to get warranty from the seller. 16% of the respondents believe that buying goods from a legal company that did the repairs would be safer and would be willing to buy a second-hand device with such conditions. The same share of the respondents said that knowing the reasons for why the device is being sold would influence their decision to buy it.

The growing sustainability and responsible consumption awareness drives everyone to pay closer attention to their shopping habits. The experience of Latvia’s tech company Tet shows that a sustainable approach to the use of electrical goods is possible, and it can create positive benefits for the company and the environment. Adriāna Kauliņa, sustainability manager at Tet, talked about this in more detail: ‘We are committed to the sustainable use of electrical goods, and we offer solutions that help prevent and reduce waste, making the reuse of these devices possible. For example, whenever a client orders new devices from our online shop, we pick up their old devices and disposed of them free of charge. Another important field of activity in our company is making sure that devices like modems, routers, and decoders are reused for as long as this is technologically and aesthetically possible.’

It should be the responsibility of every company to assess its capacity to implement initiatives that could help tackle the rising problem of electrical and electronic waste. Jānis Beseris, head of Corporate Relations at Maxima Latvija, noted that in its activities, the company paid special attention to the topics of sustainability, including the responsible use of electrical appliances: ‘Whenever you seek to create change, it’s best to start with yourself, so in terms of sustainability, our primary concern is to ensure that our direct actions leave a smaller footprint on the environment. This includes making sure that we sell products as effectively as possible, reducing food waste, and improve our 170 stores by introducing more environmentally-friendly technical solutions, such as replacing lights with LED lamps, setting up energy-efficient and upgraded equipment, and having a separate team that deals with equipment that can be repaired. We believe that by managing electrical devices in a responsible way, we can build a better tomorrow together.’

State Environmental Service data show that some 30,000 tonnes of electrical appliances enter Latvia’s market every year, that is, about 14–15 kg sold per person per year. Meanwhile, the amount of end-of-life electrical devices is as high as approximately 20,000 tonnes per year. It is important to keep in mind that the production of electrical goods consumes finite such natural resources as various metals and fossil fuels, including non-renewable energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. This means that every devices that is thrown away has a negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, electrical waste, if not properly handled, disposed of, and recycled, can become a direct threat to the environment and to public health.It can be a source of various chemicals leaking into the environment, including harmful neurotoxic substances like lead. So it is important to contact your local government or a specialised waste pick-up company if you have an end-of-life electrical device and you can no longer use it.

Latvia has an extensive collection system for electrical goods that ensures that hazardous substances are removed from these devices and recycled in line with environmental regulations. Unwanted electrical goods can also be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way handing them over at waste sorting sites across Latvia, while small appliances and batteries can be placed in special sorting bins in shops. You can also contact your waste management operator about electric goods pick-up services.

LIFE integrated project ‘Waste to Resources Latvia — boosting regional sustainability and circularity’ (LIFE Waste To Resources IP, LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014) is implemented with the financial support of the LIFE programme of the European Union and the Latvian State Regional Development Agency. www.wastetoresources.varam.gov.lv

* The Norstat Latvia survey took place in February this year, and involved 1003 people aged 18 to 74.