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The volume of electrical equipment on the Latvian market increases by several thousand tonnes every year. From just over 18,000 tonnes in 2016 to 24,000 tonnes in 2018, and over 27,000 tonnes in 2021. This means an increase in the volume of equipment that will eventually have to find a second life. In order to promote the sorting of end-of-life electrical equipment and raise public awareness about responsible management and re-use of electrical goods, the environmental management company “Eco Baltia vide”, together with Latvijas Zaļais punkts and Tet, will implement the campaign "All-Latvia Electrical Clean-up" to take place from 19 April to 21 May at more than 60 waste sorting sites across Latvia.

"It is important to encourage society to use goods for longer to prolong their life. At the same time, a large proportion of the population still use to dispose of old appliances in household waste, without realising the environmental impact. While 65% of the public said in surveys that, in their opinion,
sorting points are located seemingly far away or difficult to access, our campaigns show the opposite effect, where people in several cases have taken almost a tonne of end-of-life equipment to the special collection points. This in turn proves the need for periodic reminders of what to do with what has become redundant. We invite you to use the "All-Latvia Electrical Clean-up" as an additional incentive to vacate your homes of unwanted appliances so that we can give them a second life in recycling and, perhaps, soon, in re-circulation once they are repaired", says Jānis Aizbalts, Chairman of the Board of “Eco Baltia vide”.

The LIFE survey* shows that the majority, or 88%, of the residents of Latvia have bought at least one electric device last year. Slightly more than half said they had bought small household appliances, while four in ten said they had bought at least a mobile phone. As for the end-of-life appliances, there is a positive trend, with two thirds of respondents trying to repair or refurbish their damaged appliances, with the most common being the seller's warranty repair (59%).

64% of respondents give their appliances to friends or relatives, 57% keep them in case they are still useful, and 42% take them to special sorting points or give them to their waste manager. However, a large number of respondents (23%) still throw away their unwanted appliances in household waste containers, with 37% explaining that they lack the motivation and desire to dispose of them properly.

"Latvia, as one of the European Union (EU) Member States, shares responsibility for the EU's Green Deal, where both the habits of society and the decisions taken at national level will play an important role. This year is significant in Latvia because we have started to lay the groundwork to explore and develop opportunities to promote the repair and re-use of electrical goods in the coming years to encourage additional recycling. Again, it is important that the society knows where and why to take their unwanted equipment. As the ministry responsible for the environmental sector, we will purposefully build the groundwork for goods to last longer and ultimately continue their life in re-circulation instead of landfill, which is also encouraged by the EU in its directives", explains Ms Agnese Geduševa, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development.

According to the survey, 55% of the society have already used an electrical repair service at least once. Those who had not used them cited that the appliances being outdated and they wanted to buy new ones (42%), that repairs were too expensive (37%), and that there was no need to repair electrical appliances (33%) as the main reasons for that. Four out of ten of those who used repair services had repaired a computer or mobile phone, another third - a large appliance and just under a third - a small appliance.

“This year, the European Commission has come up with new proposals aimed at ensuring that household appliances that have stopped working or no longer work well enough are repaired more often and get on with their lives, rather than being replaced immediately. We also encourage companies to produce goods in a way that allows them to be repaired. It is estimated that EU consumers lose almost €12 billion a year by choosing replacement over repair. The proposal will ensure that more goods are repaired within the legal warranty period and that consumers can repair technically repairable goods more easily and cheaply, even after the warranty period has expired or when the goods no longer work due to wear and tear. Less products thrown away means less waste, less materials needed to produce new goods and fewer greenhouse gas emissions from the production and sales process", explains Andris Kužnieks, Deputy Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia.

 "Technology companies also generate a significant amount of electronic waste, directly and indirectly. That's why waste management is increasingly focused on extending the life cycle of equipment and responsible disposal. Last year, 57% of new installations used pre-owned equipment to provide basic services. This year, we aim to achieve similar goals. The long life of electrical appliances is becoming increasingly important and they are a valuable resource even when they are worn-out", says Ms Adriana Kauliņa, Director of Sustainability Development at “Tet”.

The campaign "All-Latvia Electrical Clean-up" invites people to look through their electrical equipment and get rid of the excess by dropping it off free of charge at one of the campaign's more than 60 waste sorting sites. Residents can take large household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers, TVs, as well as small appliances, such as hairdryers, mixers, blenders, irons and other appliances to the waste sorting sites. All the equipment to be transferred must be disassembled to prevent release of harmful parts into the environment. Addresses of the sorting sites are available HERE.

Every participant who will hands in a piece of equipment will have the opportunity to enter a draw for a prize of their choice - a new phone, TV, coffee machine, a “Tet” gift card worth €100 or a “Maxima Latvija” gift card worth €200. Each visit to the waste sorting site entitles to registration for one draw. The draw according to the prize categories will take place and the results will be announced on 5 June on the “Eco Baltia vide” website www.ecobaltiavide.lv.

The campaign organisers remind that unwanted electrical goods can also be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way on a daily basis by handing them in at waste sorting sites across Latvia, and small appliances and batteries - in special sorting boxes at retail outlets. You can also contact your waste management operator for collection services.

* The study "Assessment of consumer electronics consumption habits" was carried out in July 2022 within the framework of the project No. LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014 - LIFE Waste To Resources IP project with “Forta Research” surveying 1,007 residents of Latvia aged 18-74 on the internet.