News

The State Environmental Service (SES) is launching the development of a modern digital tool for the accounting and control system of natural resource tax (NRT) objects, based on the prepared action plan for the digitalization of NRT object data. The action plan for data digitalization is included in the reports prepared by SES in August and September 2023:

• Report on the flow of goods (objects included in producer responsibility systems) in Latvia and preparation of an action plan for data digitalization;

• Report on the flow of packaging in Latvia and preparation of an action plan for data digitalization.

The reports also provide general information on the operating principles of the producer extended responsibility system (EPR), the regulatory enactments regulating this sphere, list the NRT objects to be managed within the EPR framework and their waste class codes.

The reports found that existing SES information technology solutions need to be improved to ensure automated data quality monitoring and data summary generation in various data cross-sections. Currently, there is no single digital solution in Latvia for the management of NRT object data, this data is collected at different levels and in different data processing modes, which creates difficulties for both state institutions and other interested parties. In order to be able to assess data quality and react to data changes, SES needs to obtain detailed data on the volume of NRT objects placed on the market. On the other hand, in order for the public to be more involved in reducing the grey sector, it is necessary to publish data on the producers involved in the producer extended responsibility systems.

“Working on the report, we found that several improvements need to be made to the SES information system, related to changes in requirements, usability, process automation, integration with other state information systems and expansion of the range of services. The planned solutions will reduce the administrative burden and ensure the availability of quality information to the public, as well as promote more efficient management and control of NRT object data. This will help to better plan measures to reduce specific types of waste, promote reuse, recycling and other regeneration methods, thus reducing the amount of waste landfilled,” explains the author of the report, Dace Jansone-Vēvere, leading expert of the SES Waste Management Department.

A unified database integrated with other state information systems will allow for more effective market surveillance and ensure consumer protection. Thanks to accurate and reliable information on the flow of NRT objects, institutions will be able to more easily identify illegal activities, as well as assess the compliance of producers with the requirements. This will promote fair competition in the market and consumer confidence in waste management systems.

The reports were prepared within the framework of Activity A6 “Preparation for increasing data management and control capacity and improvement of the producer extended responsibility system” of the integrated project “Waste as Resources in Latvia – Promoting Regional Sustainability and Circularity by Implementing the Concept of Waste as a Resource” (LIFE Waste To Resources IP) of the EU LIFE program.

The development of digital tools is carried out within the framework of sub-activity C6.2 “Strengthening the capacity of state institutions in the control and administration of waste flows and producer responsibility systems” of the LIFE Project. Solutions for packaging data management will be developed by the end of 2024, and for other NRT objects by the end of 2025.

According to the Natural Resource Tax Law, NRT objects to be managed within the framework of the producer extended responsibility system are: packaging (including deposit packaging), environmentally harmful goods, electrical and electronic equipment and vehicles.