From 17 September to 8 October 2025, the Ministry of Climate and Energy organized a series of seminars titled “On the Way to Action – Circular Economy and Waste Management at the Local Level.” More than 100 representatives from municipalities, state institutions, waste management companies, educational institutions, NGOs, and other organizations took part. The aim of the seminars was to discuss solutions for integrating circular economy principles into the daily work of municipalities and for engaging residents in sustainable action.
The seminar cycle covered four practical topics for municipalities. This year’s seminars continued the series launched last year on improving the waste management system and transitioning to a circular economy at the municipal level. This article provides an overview of the first two seminars, their discussion topics, and conclusions.
What to Purchase – a Chair or a Seat?
At the seminar “Procurements with Added Value: Circular Thinking in Public Administration”, presentations were combined with practical group exercises. In Salaspils, participants took part in a specially designed game “Procurement Mission – The Circular Challenge.” During the game, various procurement situations were modeled, and participants discussed effective and circular solutions. This approach helped demonstrate how theoretical principles work in practice and how public procurement can become an effective tool for moving toward more sustainable management. Each working group had a different task – implementing a circular procurement for school catering, organizing public municipal events, purchasing furniture for municipal premises, and providing a social service.
In modeling the situations, various sustainability criteria (R-criteria) had to be considered, such as:
rethink – reassess opportunities to shift procurement from goods to services;
reduce – reduce resource consumption;
reuse – reuse materials or products;
repair – fix items to extend their lifespan;
refurbish – restore items to their original quality or functionality;
recycle – recycle materials into new products;
redesign – redesign products and systems with circular principles in mind.
Situation modeling allows participants to look at the planned procurement from an external perspective, discuss possible solutions from different stakeholder viewpoints, and share experiences. This not only provides knowledge on implementing circular procurement principles but also helps shift the usual mindset—from focusing on purchasing a specific product to defining the actual need. For example, is there a need to buy chairs or simply to ensure seating? Is it necessary to buy lanterns, or just to provide lighting? Is there a need to purchase new computer equipment, or could it be leased together with future repair services and returned to the supplier after use?
The game’s developer and seminar moderator, Inese Pelša, Chair of the Board of the Latvian Sustainable Procurement Association, emphasized that “circular procurement can deliver significant benefits while reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability. By introducing this approach, it is possible to achieve economic, social, and environmental gains.”
At the seminar, Tālis Linkaits, Senior Expert at the Riga Energy Agency, presented the process of establishing the Sadarbnīca (“Workshop”). Sadarbnīca is a workshop where any Riga resident can repair, remake, or create the furniture they need—even if they lack the skills to do so themselves. A circular procurement was carried out to set up the workshop using recycled materials. The main challenge of the procurement was to purchase a furnishing and equipment service for the space. The key to success was selecting a service provider who quickly understood the essence of the task and provided ideas for both the room’s design solutions and for sourcing recycled materials.
A. Ezeriņš, a representative of Sigulda Municipality, shared the municipality’s experience in implementing green procurement for school catering. He noted that not only careful preparation of the technical specifications and contract signing are important, but also the monitoring and control of the service throughout its implementation.
Presentations at the first seminar in Latvian:
Using the Experience of the LIFE Project "Waste to Resources Latvia" in Municipalities
Smart, Responsible, Circular: How to Develop Circular Procurement
Circular Public Procurement: Future Challenges and Opportunities
The Story of Creating Sadarbnīca in the Context of Circular Procurement
Green Public Procurement in Practice
Where Will the Exchange Center Be Located in Your Municipality?
The seminar “Circular Economy Center as an Opportunity for Resource Conservation” took place in Valmiera at the co-creation workshop DARE and brought together participants from municipalities, waste management companies, and state institutions. Participants not only considered the idea of creating a circular economy center in their municipalities but also took the first steps toward its implementation.
Participants discussed what is needed to establish a reuse center. The most important factor identified was choosing a suitable and easily accessible location—for example, in a market area, library, or waste sorting site. Participants also proposed the idea of a mobile circular center that could provide item exchange services throughout the entire municipality.
To create such a center, permission from the property owner or operator is required. It is also essential that the center has a person responsible for supervising both the space and the items that residents plan to leave there. The main goal is to offer items in good technical condition and cleanliness.
Small reuse centers, in the form of a shelf or cabinet, can be placed in various public spaces such as schools and preschools for the exchange of children’s items, toys, and other accessories. The cabinet should display clear guidelines indicating which items can be placed inside and the rules for its use.
Exchange cabinets can also be set up in libraries, which already perform book exchange functions, offering items such as musical instruments, craft and hobby tools, seeds, and other items.
Reuse cabinets can be established in youth centers, social centers, municipal cultural houses, tourism information centers, and elsewhere, providing item exchange opportunities tailored to the needs of specific target groups. Items for exchange can include decorations, sports equipment, materials for creative activities and crafts, tools, repair and sewing supplies, and other items.
Construction material and tool exchange points can be set up at waste sorting sites or collection points accessible to all residents of the municipality.
Gints Kukainis, Chairman of the Board of SIA “ZAAO,” shared the plan for creating a Circular Economy Center in Valmiera. The center is planned to be easily accessible to residents at any time of day. It will offer opportunities to hand over items for reuse or to have them repaired and returned to circulation.
Diāna Baranovska, Head of the Material Circulation Department at SIA “Eco Baltia Vide” LAB!, shared the experience of creating the repair workshop and store LAB!, emphasizing the importance of preserving and passing on craftsmanship skills, as there is a critical shortage of skilled craftsmen in Latvia.
Kristīne Āboliņa, an expert from Cēsis Municipality, presented the Circular Economy Roadmap for Municipalities available on the platform lietovelreiz.lv, which includes more than 140 practical solutions for how municipalities can become more circular. The roadmap examples encourage municipalities to review the resources available in their territory and consider more rational ways to use them.
Presentations at the second seminar in Latvian:
DARE - A Plase for Your Creativity and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Using the Experience of the LIFE Project "Waste to Resources Latvia" in Municipalities
What Is Needed to Create a Reuse Center in a Municipality?
Establishing the Circular Center in Valmiera
Circular Economy Roadmap for Municipalities
Repair Workshop and Store LAB!
The seminar cycle was implemented within the framework of the LIFE Integrated Project “Waste To Resources Latvia - boosting regional sustainability and circularity”. Its aim is to create opportunities for meetings, discussions, experience sharing, and joint exploration of practical solutions for improving the waste management system and transitioning to a circular economy at the local level.
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