Clearing litter from Latvian state roadsides costs over a million euros a year
Latvian State Roads (LVC), the state road manager, says it has spent over 1.03 million euros in the first ten months of this year on cleaning roadsides and bus stops. Individuals can be fined up to 1,000 euros for dumping waste in unauthorised places.
Household waste bags, tyres, construction debris and discarded appliances are still regularly found along Latvia's state roads and at public transport stops. The state road manager VSIA Latvijas Valsts ceļi (LVC) says that collecting litter from roadsides and stop bins costs more than a million euros a year. Individuals can be fined up to 1,000 euros for illegal dumping.
Costs
Last year, 1,196,000 euros were spent on collecting waste from state road verges and from bins at public transport stops. In the first ten months of this year, spending has already reached 1,035,267 euros. LVC says residents' irresponsible behaviour significantly affects these costs.
Stop bins are often used for household waste. Construction debris, hazardous waste, tyres and appliances are also left in and around them. Anna Kononova, head of LVC's communications department, says packaging from meat and dairy products appears at stops every week, as does polystyrene from appliance packaging. She reminds people that the bins are intended only for small items such as tickets, receipts, paper and empty drink containers.
Waste collection is paid for from the overall state road maintenance budget. The more money goes to cleaning, the less remains for other work, including grass mowing and repairing ruts in gravel roads.
Situation in Bauskas novads
The problem is also relevant in Bauskas novads. The municipal police regularly receive reports of waste left on roadsides, in forests, ditches, at stops and next to containers. Police chief Reinis Ikaunieks says such behaviour violates the established rules. The police also refer to Bauska municipality's binding regulations No. 15, which require property owners to arrange waste management. Residents who have not yet signed a relevant contract are urged to do so as soon as possible.
Fines
Section 43(2) of the Waste Management Law prohibits putting household, construction, bulky and hazardous waste in bins near state roads. Violations can bring fines of up to 1,000 euros for individuals and up to 2,800 euros for legal entities.
