With practical and valuable conclusions, the cycle of six seminars aimed at fostering discussions on implementing circular economy measures in municipalities, sharing experiences, and seeking solutions to current circularity-related challenges has concluded. Over 250 representatives from state and municipal institutions, waste management and recycling companies, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions participated in the seminar series.
The seminars were organized using the Lotus Blossom Technique, a design-thinking method. This approach involves participants working in groups, sharing experiences, and discussing potential solutions to challenges. Using such a method enables every participant to express their views, fostering the creation of new connections and finding like-minded collaborators for future cooperation. This method is commonly employed for experience-sharing and co-creating new ideas, as it involves various stakeholders in group work.
To strengthen the transition to a circular economy and improve the waste management system at the local level, participants in each seminar discussed various challenges. Solutions based on practical experience and discussions about enhancing the waste management system are summarized in the continuation of this article.
How to promote the return of goods and the retention of materials in the loop?
The first seminar took place on September 19, 2024, at the Environmental Education Center of Getliņi EKO Ltd. Fifty participants attended the seminar to discuss material reuse and the availability of repair services in municipalities. Seminar participants concluded that public education is one of the key solutions on the path to a more sustainable future and the implementation of circularity-based solutions.

Group Recommendations Summarized into Three Topics:
Educational and Targeted Efforts with Various Social Groups
Educational work should target various groups of society, starting with preschool-aged children and not forgetting seniors. The knowledge of municipal council members and municipal specialists on circular economy and waste management issues should be improved by organizing educational excursions to waste management sites and showcasing practical examples of circular economy initiatives. The educational process can also include competitive elements, such as organizing contests for various target groups, for example, schools, businesses, or municipalities.
Availability of Circular Services for Local Residents
The seminar discussed the establishment of circular closets (for example, for household items, food, clothing) in municipalities, concluding that circular closets should be as close as possible to residents while ensuring their supervision. Such closets can be set up in schools, municipal libraries, and other places accessible to residents. Digital solutions for implementing circular practices were highly appreciated, such as the online platform lietovelreiz.lv, which provides information about opportunities to rent, share items, find good craftsmen for repairs, and acquire used goods/products free of charge or for a symbolic fee. Another useful online platform mentioned was šķiroviegli.lv, which provides information on publicly accessible waste sorting locations (points and sites) across Latvia.
A call was made to simplify regulations to enable the implementation of circular economy measures with less administrative burden and clearer, simpler requirements. For example, it is necessary to simplify certification conditions for recycled construction materials to make it easier for them to return to circulation and be used more frequently. Waste sorting opportunities across the country should be uniform, for example, using pictograms on waste containers and color coding for specific waste streams. Amendments to the Cabinet Regulation No. 788 "Regulations on Waste Collection and Sorting Sites," adopted on December 13, 2016, have been prepared to introduce unified pictograms on waste containers.[1]
How to improve the collaboration between municipalities, waste managers, and communities in addressing circular economy and waste management issues?
The second seminar was held on October 2, 2024, at the Resource and Education Center Urda, managed by ZAAO Ltd, at the Daibe landfill, with 48 participants. The seminar discussed opportunities to improve collaboration between municipalities, waste managers, and communities. Participants proposed ideas that can already be implemented at the local level, such as appointing ambassadors from the local community to maintain dialogue with the involved parties, especially local residents; holding regular meetings of involved parties; and actively engaging the younger generation with specific motivation. Participants emphasized the potential of existing Resident Councils to take a more active role in addressing waste management issues.

Recommendations from groups to improve collaboration between municipalities, waste managers, and residents included the following activities:
Seminar participants emphasized the need for municipalities to organize regular meetings with all involved parties to jointly address issues and convey information to both residents and organizations responsible for waste management. It is crucial for municipalities and waste management companies to receive feedback from residents on waste sorting, which can be discussed during such meetings. A direct dialogue between municipalities, waste managers, and building managers is essential.
As a solution to ensure mutual communication and cooperation, participants proposed the more active use of Resident Councils[2], which could also represent the interests of local community members regarding waste management issues, promoting cooperation among residents and coordinated action for the common good[3].
It is necessary within municipalities or local communities to appoint individuals from among the residents who serve as opinion leaders for their particular community group. Seminar participants proposed that "ambassadors" could play a significant role in strengthening cooperation between stakeholders. These ambassadors could engage with residents on various topics related to waste management and the implementation of circular economy measures, such as how to sort waste correctly, why it is necessary, and answering residents’ questions. Organizations responsible for waste management—waste management operators in collaboration with municipalities—could organize training or competency-building for ambassadors. An ambassador or opinion leader can be any individual with influence in the community, including not only popular figures on social media but also municipal leaders, entrepreneurs, active seniors, clergy, and other local community representatives.
Different participation opportunities should be offered to different target groups. For example, children and young people, who are the quickest to adapt to changes, form new habits more easily, and are more open to a sustainable lifestyle, should be provided with engaging information about circular economy and waste management issues. Seminar participants highlighted the potential of children and young people to serve as examples from whom others learn—family members, seniors, and peers in kindergartens and schools. Since waste management is one of the cornerstones of the circular economy, these topics should primarily be included in preschool education programs and subsequently continued in schools, both in the content of educational programs and through various additional educational and engaging activities.
To involve the younger generation, municipalities and waste management companies, in collaboration with Latvian universities, could provide additional motivation for young people, such as creating advantages for university admission based on active environmental advocacy.
The seminar participants also highlighted the role of producers, retailers, and consumers in achieving waste reduction and recycling goals, as well as waste prevention. For example, municipalities could encourage retailers to offer unpackaged goods in sales locations through economic or social incentives, urging the use of customer-provided packaging. Regulatory frameworks could facilitate agreements on uniform packaging labeling, for instance, placing pictograms on packaging to indicate the waste stream in which the packaging should be managed.
How to improve the availability of services and information for more effective waste sorting?
The third seminar took place on October 16, 2024, in Jēkabpils. Importantly, the active involvement of building managers in waste management is critical, as they are responsible for providing information between waste management operators and residents. Notably, in the seminar held in Jēkabpils, this group was the most widely represented. A total of 35 participants attended the seminar.

The results of the discussions during this seminar were focused on providing understandable information to various target groups. Specifically, it is necessary to work differently with each target group, and residents value direct dialogue. Municipalities and waste management companies must prepare easily comprehensible informational content. Participants suggested the possibility of providing a waste sorting guide or information on how much money a specific resident or household has saved by sorting waste, along with the contract for waste management. Alternatively, examples could be provided, showing how much could be saved if waste sorting were to begin. It is also essential to inform residents about why sorting is necessary, and waste managers must provide feedback to residents on where the sorted waste ends up.
Several working groups shared experiences from various pilot projects that have successfully initiated waste sorting and demonstrated that once sorting skills are acquired during the project implementation, residents can continue to use them even after the project ends. It should be emphasized that households are more likely to maintain these habits if project implementers or organizations responsible for waste management continue to provide support for waste sorting (e.g., supplying biodegradable bags). Therefore, the implementation of pilot projects aimed at changing residents’ habits and ensuring proper waste sorting should be encouraged, as well as maintaining the results of these projects after their conclusion.
During the discussions, participants highlighted the availability of a separate collection service for organic waste as a significant issue. Seminar participants pointed out that sorting this type of waste is not straightforward, as the decision to sort organic waste is influenced not only by the availability of organic waste containers but also by the cleanliness of the containers and potential odors. Consequently, waste sorting is sometimes an emotional decision. To provide residents with financial motivation, seminar participants discussed the possibility of making the sorting and disposal of organic waste free of charge. However, it should be noted that the costs of these actions would then need to be included in the fee for managing unsorted waste, which would increase significantly. Therefore, this idea requires further detailed evaluation.
At the conclusion of each seminar, participants had the opportunity to visit a waste landfill, which added additional value to the process of learning and exchanging experiences. A summary of conclusions from the other three regional seminars—held in Liepāja, Daugavpils, and Cēsis—will follow.
[1] The Ministry of Climate and Energy is advancing amendments to Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 788 of December 13, 2016, "Regulations on Waste Collection and Sorting Sites," which provide for the introduction of pictograms (23-TA-1068). Available: https://tapportals.mk.gov.lv/legal_acts/989c78d6-f0eb-4c69-b2f8-fc5afcd93e70
[2] Guidelines for the formation of Resident Councils in municipalities. Available: https://providus.lv/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/VADLINIJAS.pdf
[3] Law on Local Governments, Section 58, Resident Council. Available: https://likumi.lv/ta/id/336956#p58