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The conference "Create Better, Use Longer - Waste as Resources in Latvia!" held at the Cēsis Concert Hall last week brought together a significant number of experts and representatives from manufacturing companies who deal with waste management issues in their daily work or are involved in waste management. The LIFE integrated project Waste to Resources in the conference served as a platform, combining the conclusions and expertise gained in the project with everyday experience in waste management. Solutions to current challenges were sought collaboratively. The event took place within the framework of Vidzeme Innovation Week.

Latvia still faces a large volume of waste being disposed of in landfills. To reduce the negative impact on the environment, waste sorting and recycling must be promoted. In 2022, the total amount of household waste generated in Latvia was 865.6 thousand tonnes. Meanwhile, the amount of waste prepared for recycling approached 50% in 2022, compared to 44.1% in 2021. The European Union's set goal is to prepare 55% of annually generated household waste for recycling by 2025. Therefore, new solutions in waste management need to be found, and efforts to promote waste collection and recycling, as well as to reduce waste generation, are necessary.

The first part of the conference focused on the manufacturing sector. Experts presented reports on project activities, encouraging Latvian companies to approach the production process creatively and responsibly. Zigmārs Brunavs, representative of ‘Cleantech Latvia’, emphasized in his report that industrial symbiosis between manufacturing companies not only reduces environmental impact by promoting reuse of resources and manufacturing by-products but also contributes to regional economic growth by creating new jobs and strengthening companies' competitiveness. Within the project LIFE Waste to Resources IP ‘Cleantech Latvia’ has established the industrial symbiosis platform ‘Sinergia.lv’ and this spring, in collaboration with Riga Technical University, Ltd. ‘ZAAO’, and Cēsis Municipality, will launch an acceleration program providing training, mentoring, and funding for the development of new industrial symbiosis processes among companies.

Aija Caune from Ltd. ‘Zaļā josta’ mentioned in her report on producer responsibility systems that manufacturers should also consider educating the public about waste, its collection, recycling, or environmentally friendly disposal. Last year, a producer responsibility system for tobacco products was introduced, requiring tobacco product manufacturers to support effective collection of their own financially and organizationally or imported goods' waste. Municipalities and waste managers also play a significant role in this system.

Conference participants, including several construction and building material manufacturing companies, found valuable insights in the report delivered by Brigita Ķirule-Vīksne, a representative of the Latvian Builders Association and a DGNB consultant, on the current situation regarding construction waste management. Within the project, the association is undertaking the development and piloting of guideline documents for circulation solutions in the construction process and material flows.

The panel discussion involved representatives from Latvian companies such as Ltd. ‘TENACHEM’, Ltd. ‘TOLMETS Vidzeme’, Ltd. ‘Balticfloc’ and Ltd. ‘Valmiermuižas Alus’, as well as from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. The panel concluded that Latvia has made significant progress towards more sustainable waste management, particularly highlighting the introduction of deposit system in Latvia. Participants noted that the deposit system also reflects bureaucratic obstacles resulting in slow implementation of new processes and innovative ideas on a national scale. Aigars Ruņģis, owner of Ltd. ‘Valmiermuižas Alus’, praised the deposit system for beverage containers, which is becoming increasingly popular at festivals and events, but still lacks sufficient demand among consumers due to inconvenience. However, this new deposit system for beverage containers also poses challenges for companies with cash and non-cash circulation and accounting at events.

The theme of the second part of the conference was devoted to the journey of waste from the consumer to waste managers. Several innovative platforms aimed at reusing goods and resources were presented as part of the project. The association ‘Zero Waste Latvia’ in collaboration with the association ‘Zaļā brīvība’ has created the platform ‘LietoVelreiz.lv’ within the project's framework. The goal of the platform is to encourage society to engage in circular economy by providing alternatives to purchasing new goods. The platform offers goods for rent, free or nominal fee for used goods, and craftsmen for product repairs. Meanwhile, Ltd. ‘Eco Baltia vide’, in February of this year has opened the electrical repair workshop "Lab!" in Rumbula, where experienced electricians perform diagnostics and repairs of equipment. These presentations sparked a discussion about the shortage of various item repair specialists in the country. Promoting the acquisition of repair skills should become an important focus of state education if we want to encourage and support people to use items for longer. As an example, Maija Krastiņa, a board member of ‘Zero Waste Latvia’, mentioned that there is only one umbrella repair specialist known in Riga, and people sometimes don't even consider that such an item can be repaired and continued to be used.

To fully transition to a circular economy model, waste separation at its source needs to be continued, recycling infrastructure needs to be developed, society needs to be educated about its role and possibilities in waste prevention and reduction, and businesses need to be encouraged to use recycled materials and make decisions that promote the principles of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. By collaborating, Latvia has the opportunity to create sustainable solutions beneficial for both the environment and the economy.

Within the LIFE Waste to Resources IP targeted measures are being taken to reduce waste generation, promote reuse of resources, improve waste flow control, reduce negative environmental impact, and mitigate carbon emissions' economic footprint. See the project brochure for more details.