Riga to promote waste sorting as a support to local landfill

Having a modern facility is not enough if the people are not aware of the difference they can make

On 8 July, Riga’s mayor Mārtiņš Staķis paid a visit to the SIA Getliņi EKO landfill, located near the Latvian capital, and reportedly one of the most modern in Europe. The city administrators met with landfill personnel in order to discuss plans and strategies around promoting the practice of waste sorting among the general public. The conclusion was that cutting-edge facilities are of little use if the population has not yet fully embraced or understood the benefits of separate waste collection and recycling.

The Getliņi landfill produces biogas and recycled materials

The Getliņi landfill is spread over 87 hectares. It was registered as a municipal company in 1997, and since 2015 it has been operating a waste sorting plant equipped and organized according to the latest standards.

On one hand, the plant transforms organic waste into biogas, which is burned to produce heating energy, and recyclable materials are delivered to companies engaged in their transformation. On the other hand, it stores unrecyclable waste in secure, environmentally sealed cells that are protected from exposure to climatic elements. Wastewater is likewise collected and purified.

“For it to work more effectively, attention needs to be paid to waste sorting issues. In order to promote the education of the population about environmentally friendly lifestyle, as well as to strengthen the habit of waste sorting in everyday life, it is planned to organize a campaign in the field of environmental education together with the Riga municipality in the second half of the year,” declared Mayor Staķis during the visit.

As a result, the Housing and Environment Committee of the Latvian capital has set a new strategic goal for the landfill company. The landfill will ensure quality management of accepted waste and will also inform the public how to reduce environmental pollution and landfill waste while promoting the efficient use of resources and a circular economy.