14.02.2025
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To promote a sustainable lifestyle by providing residents with the necessary knowledge for making responsible decisions, on September 27th, Ltd "ZAAO" (ZAAO) launched the informal education program "Saving the Family Budget While Living Greener" with its first session at the Regional Circular Economy Education and Competence Centre "Daibe." The sessions include practical tips and workshops on resource conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable consumption, such as textile recycling and stylist recommendations for creating a capsule wardrobe. The second session, held in January 2025, was dedicated to the topic "Waste Management Systems in Households and Waste Reduction." The events will continue until July 2025. The program is available to all interested individuals, offering opportunities to acquire practical skills and save resources while reducing the negative impact on the environment.
ZAAO Environmental Education Department Head Ieva Freimane Mihailova: “We live in a time when responsible decisions about our consumption habits and waste management are crucial to building a sustainable future. With the help of this program, we aim to inspire people to make environmentally friendly decisions that will not only help them save their finances but also reduce the negative impact on the environment.”
As part of the campaign "The Planet Needs Heroes, Not Waste!", the Environmental Education Fund encourages families to use the waste audit tool at www.atkritumuaudits.lv to track the amount of waste generated in households and identify sustainable solutions. The campaign runs four times a year, allowing for the analysis of waste generation in different seasons.
During the campaign, the amount and type of waste will be measured using a specially developed waste audit tool. Families with the best results will be rewarded, motivating and strengthening their understanding of a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
"In nature, waste does not occur, but in the human-created world, it is increasing. In the European Union, more than 2.2 billion tons of waste are generated every year. More than a quarter of this comes from household waste, which is mainly produced by households. Moreover, in Latvia, the majority of this still ends up in landfills. To educate the public and reduce the amount of waste as much as possible, we are launching a campaign for families. It is an opportunity for each family to find out how much of a 'waste mountain' you are creating and what you can do to reduce it," says Daniels Trukšāns, Program Director of Eco-Schools at the Environmental Education Fund.
We invite families to join the campaign "The Planet Needs Heroes, Not Waste!" at atkritumuaudits.lv
As part of the LIFE integrated project "Waste to Resources IP" the Green Freedom Association has published an updated "Green Guide" on the impact of lifestyle on the environment, sustainability, and actions we can take to improve it. The guide provides practical tips on how to choose more sustainable and health-friendly products, how to maintain the environment around us to reduce resource consumption, protect ourselves and others from harmful substances, and other useful, green, and sustainable tips for life.
The guide covers 12 main topics, such as food, housing and gardens, cleaning products, urban living, and delves deeper into issues like fair trade, heating, pet food, hygiene products, toys, and many more.
The first "Green Guide" was published by the Green Freedom Association in 2008. In 2023, a new version of the guide was digitized.
A new greenhouse gas emissions calculation tool has been developed within the project for the waste management sector, which helps accurately determine emissions from activities such as waste transportation, recycling, regeneration, and landfilling.
The tool is based on internationally recognized methodologies as well as the guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), offering emission analysis in CO2 equivalents, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). This approach ensures high accuracy and compliance with national inventory data collection requirements, enabling the use of calculation results in policy-making and reporting at the national level. The tool will assist companies in planning measures for emissions reduction and more efficient resource use. Training on how to use the tool took place on November 12 and 21, 2024.
The State Environmental Service has introduced two new e-services in the "TULPE" information system to improve the deposit packaging management system, reducing administrative burden and improving data accuracy.
The two new services are:
"Deposit Packaging Management System" – for amendments to the management plan of the deposit packaging management system.
"Implementation of the Deposit Packaging Management System" – for submitting reports on deposit packaging management.
These services allow for the centralized submission of information about operators and exemptions from natural resource tax. Integration with other systems, such as the Business Register and the Pollution Activity Permit Module issued by the State Environmental Service, ensures automated data processing, promoting system efficiency and digitalization. This initiative eases waste tracking management for the deposit packaging operator SIA "Deposit Packaging Operator" (DIO) and other operators involved in the system, improving the long-term implementation of circular economy principles.
On November 4-5, the LIFE integrated project "Waste to Resources IP" organized an international networking event, gathering representatives of European LIFE projects and industry experts from Greece, Finland, Belgium, and Poland in Latvia to discuss plastic waste reduction and sustainable recycling.
On the first day of the networking event, participants from LIFE projects presented their project activities and current challenges in sustainable waste management, which are being addressed through project initiatives.
The participants were also informed about sustainable and efficient plastic packaging production by Latvia's leading packaging industry expert, Prof. Dr. Sandra Muižniece-Brasava, a professor at the University of Latvia's Faculty of Bioeconomy and the Chair of the Board of the Latvian Packaging Association.
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On the second day, several innovative approaches to sustainable waste management were presented. Valdis Bisters, the CEO of HyroGas, introduced a prototype of a waste gasification unit that will produce synthetic gas as an alternative to natural gas from mixed waste. Waltteri Heikkilä, a representative from PlastLIFE in Finland, shared his experience in educating the public about the impact of waste on the environment and offered biodegradable material solutions to replace plastics. Besim Hoxha, the project manager of the Polish project PlasticLifeCycle, presented an analysis of plastic waste and standards for more efficient recycling and energy savings. Els Herremans, the project manager of the Belgian LIFE-IP C-MARTLife, discussed activities for reducing plastic packaging and raising public awareness about the circular economy. Periklis Kafasis, a representative of the Greek LIFE IP CEI Greece, presented the "pay-as-you-throw" approach and hazardous waste sorting bins to promote public participation and responsible waste management.
Networking participants also had the opportunity to visit one of the largest polymer recycling companies in Europe, Jsc “Iterum”, Ltd Nordic Plast, which has established an accredited laboratory for determining the composition of plastic packaging and products; Ltd Clean R’s construction waste sorting and recycling point “Nomales”; the electrical equipment repair shop Lab!; and the newly opened Resource and Management Center by Ltd Eco Baltia, where the latest waste sorting technological solutions are used.
In September and October 2024, within the framework of a series of six regional seminars, discussions were held on the implementation of the circular economy in municipalities and the improvement of waste management. It was concluded that, although many municipalities have already implemented various solutions, it is necessary for all municipalities to continue adopting measures for the transition to a circular economy and to enhance the existing waste management system at the local level.
Special attention was given to waste management at public events. The main recommendations included the implementation of a deposit container system, ensuring the availability of drinking water, and more active public awareness campaigns on waste sorting. The need for an adequate number of containers and better design solutions for public events was also emphasized.
It was suggested to create circular wardrobes in public spaces and to develop services for repairing and returning goods to the circular economy. The digital platforms www.lietovelreiz.lv and www.skiroviegli.lv were recognized as important tools for public education. In conclusion, it was determined that a successful transition to a circular economy requires closer cooperation between municipalities, businesses, and the public.
As part of the LIFE Integrated Project "Waste to Resources IP" studies were conducted on the composition and volume of various waste types, which were presented on November 21, 2024, at a seminar held at the Ministry of Climate and Energy.
Household Waste Composition Analysis (Ltd Geo Consultants). The study included an analysis of waste composition across all waste management regions in Latvia, as well as in specific cities – Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Valmiera, and Tukums. Both mixed and sorted waste composition were analyzed, examining eighteen separate fractions, including biological waste. The results of the 2024 study were compared with data from 2016, and it was concluded that the composition of mixed household waste by fraction has not changed significantly. The largest changes were observed in paper and cardboard packaging waste, which increased by 6% in the composition of household waste, while the volume of other waste fractions changed by an average of 2%, which is considered an insignificant change. However, since the previous study, both the total amount of waste and the volume of separately collected waste, including the introduction of the deposit system, have increased across the country. These study results are very important, as they provide an opportunity to compare changes over the years, forecast changes in the volume of different waste fractions, and work on improving the efficiency of waste sorting and management.
Food Waste Volume Determination (Riga Stradiņš University). The study gathered data on food waste from all stages of the food supply chain, involving producers, retailers, catering companies, and households in various regions of Latvia. Responses from the involved parties have been limited, but the initial conclusions show that households produce 3.6 kg of food waste per week. Of this, 70.2% is food scraps, 20.7% is spoiled products, and 5.6% is uneaten food. 0.6 kg is discharged into the sewage system, and 3.0 kg is managed in other ways.
Pilot Project on Separate Collection of Biological and Food Waste (Latvian Waste Management Association). A 2023 study analyzed the efficiency and challenges of separate biological waste collection in households. It was concluded that, on average, 52 kg of food waste per capita was generated in Riga annually, while in Liepaja and Preili, 42 kg and 41 kg were generated, respectively.
In 2024, the Ministry of Climate and Energy implemented a historic Asbestos Support Program in Latvia, aimed at collecting, transporting, and safely disposing of asbestos-containing slate stocks in households. The total funding available for households was €350,000. The program received 656 applications, of which 271 households were granted support, resulting in the removal and safe disposal of 711.79 tons of asbestos slate. The funding was distributed proportionally across regions, taking into account the volumes of roofing materials in Latvia’s regions.
To raise public awareness, a campaign titled "Let the Old Asbestos Roof Go!" was organized before the program’s launch, informing the public about the dangers of asbestos and proper waste management.
Despite the funding limitations, the program received significant positive feedback, and the Ministry of Climate and Energy is already considering further actions to promote the safe management of asbestos slate in Latvia.
The environmental management company "Eco Baltia vide," together with its partners, including "Lidl Latvia" and "Latvijas Zaļais punkts," is actively promoting the sustainable use of electrical goods by donating refurbished electrical appliances to several organizations and social assistance centers.
Support for SOS Children's Villages
As part of the activities for International E-Waste Day, more than 260 repaired electrical appliances, including household and garden equipment, were donated to the Valmiera SOS Children's Village, refurbished at the "Lab!" workshop. Similar support was also provided to the Īslīce SOS Children's Village, where more than 230 refurbished devices were donated to help children and young people improve their living conditions.
Donation to the "Tavi draugi" Association
The "Tavi draugi" Association received more than 135 repaired electrical appliances, including kitchen appliances, repair tools, and garden equipment. These devices are intended to assist Latvian and Ukrainian families who currently need practical support.
Support for the Līgatne Rehabilitation Centre
Additionally, several refurbished electrical appliances, including chainsaws, vacuum cleaners, and hot air fryers, were donated to the Līgatne Rehabilitation Centre. These items improve the daily operations of the centre and help provide better living conditions for its residents.
Overall Impact
In total, "Eco Baltia vide," along with its partners, has refurbished more than 700 electrical appliances, promoting responsible resource use, circular economy, and waste reduction. These initiatives not only help reduce the amount of electrical equipment going to waste but also provide direct support to those who need it most.
64% of Latvian residents admit that they would buy used electronics due to lower prices, and more than half would consider it if official repair and sales centers were available. In Latvia, people purchase electronic goods on average once every four years, but only 8% of residents buy used electronics, mainly due to concerns about quality and the lack of warranty. The purchase of used and repaired electronics is now offered by "Eco Baltia vide," with the opening of the "Lab! store," where repaired appliances are available at 30%-40% lower prices, with a warranty.
The "Lab! store" is located in Riga, at 240 Latgales Street, and the store also offers other sustainable products.
You can read more about the project's updates here
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