Experiment Reveals Illegal Construction Waste Disposal Practices
An experiment by the Construction Waste Academy using GPS-tracked waste bags found that most waste removers from classified ads operate illegally, evading taxes and often dumping waste in unauthorized locations.
In May, the Construction Waste Academy conducted an experiment to trace where construction waste ends up when removed by services found on classified ad websites. They handed over 10–15 bags of construction waste, each containing a GPS tracker, to six different waste removers.
In all six cases, the service had to be paid in cash without any documentation—no waybills, invoices, or registration in the waste flow accounting system. None of the drivers recorded the weight of the waste. According to Viktorija Mālniece, a representative of the academy, this indicates that the operators either dispose of the waste illegally or deliver it to landfills as private individuals, thereby avoiding VAT and natural resource taxes.
Each of the six removers listed licenses in their ads associated with well-known waste management companies like SIA "NIKA MI" or SIA "Lautus". Mālniece suspects that these licenses are used without the permission of the actual holders, as classified ad platforms do not verify the licenses.
The GPS data revealed various destinations. One remover drove to a hangar in Čiekurkalns, where illegal pre-sorting occurred—separating cardboard and other materials from the waste, which is not allowed without a license. Another remover drove around all day and finally took the waste to a sorting facility in Rumbula. A third delivered the bags to a container in Sigulda. The fourth load also ended up at the hangar in Čiekurkalns, the fifth tracker failed, and the sixth remover took the waste to the Rumbula landfill.
The cost for 10 bags was 50 euros, for 12 bags – 120 euros, averaging 7 euros per bag. Although cheaper than renting a container, this practice fuels the gray market. According to Gatis Grants from Latvian State Forests, about 20% of all waste found in Latvia's forests is construction waste.
To avoid illegal disposal, residents are advised to check the State Environmental Service (VVD) register to verify if the remover holds a waste management license, and to always request a receipt or waybill for the service.
