To promote a responsible approach to using electronics and extend the lifespan of devices, Latvijas Zaļais punkts, in cooperation with Eco Baltia vide, invites residents to a free small household electronics repair workshop on May 13. The event will take place from 12:00 to 16:00 at the “Lab!” store, located at 240 Latgales Street, Riga. Participants will be able to repair their own devices under the guidance of three professional electronics technicians.
Last year, with the support of the EU LIFE program project LIFE Waste To Resources IP (LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014), Eco Baltia vide launched the “Lab!” workshop. On May 13, visitors will be welcomed by “Lab!” workshop specialists, who will offer practical assistance and advice on repair options. The workshop concept combines consultation with hands-on device repair, encouraging anyone interested to bring their broken small household electronic device. The experienced “Lab!” technicians will perform diagnostics, identify potential issues, and share advice and expertise while supervising participants as they safely repair their own devices. Technicians will be available for individual consultations throughout the four-hour event, and attendees are welcome to arrive at any time during the workshop hours.
“Today we increasingly feel the lack of qualified electronics technicians, and we see how the tradition of repairing broken devices is gradually disappearing. With this initiative, we want to encourage people to change their habits — to not rush into buying new equipment, but first try to extend the life of their existing devices through repair. By fixing just one household appliance, we can save up to 70% of the resources needed to produce a new one — this means less consumption of raw materials and fewer industrial emissions,” explains Diāna Baranovska, head of the Materials Circulation Department at Eco Baltia vide’s “Lab!”.
“Modern consumption trends show that buying a new device is often faster — and even cheaper — than repairing an old one. As a result, society increasingly opts for cheap, non-repairable goods instead of investing in quality, sustainable solutions. Unfortunately, this approach promotes wastefulness and increases the amount of waste. It’s important to change this mindset by emphasizing the value of a repair culture and encouraging demand for repairable devices. That’s why we are pleased to participate in initiatives that not only reduce waste but also make a long-term contribution to public awareness,” adds Kaspars Zakulis, director of Latvijas Zaļais punkts.
“A circular economy is an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial approach to resource use. By giving a ‘second life’ to worn-out electronics, we help reduce unnecessary waste and conserve valuable raw materials. Thanks to the financial support of the LIFE program and the targeted actions of Eco Baltia vide, we are able to practically implement circular economy principles and ensure that repairing used electronics becomes a common practice,” says Alise Vecozola, head of the LIFE integrated project implementation unit at the Ministry of Climate and Energy.
All types of used and unusable household electronics are classified as environmentally hazardous waste because they may contain substances harmful to both people and the environment. If batteries or electronic devices are not recycled properly, they can release toxic pollutants into the environment, endangering nature and human health. Electronic equipment and batteries often contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, cadmium, tin, mercury, and others.
Eco Baltia vide and Latvijas Zaļais punkts also remind the public that used electronics can be brought to more than 70 waste sorting sites across Latvia. Small devices and batteries can also be dropped off at stores with designated sorting bins. These sorting sites and battery collection points can be found on the Latvijas Zaļais punkts digital sorting map.
*The 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 Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia.
The information reflects only the LIFE Waste To Resources IP beneficiaries’ view and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
