Latvia's waste output keeps shrinking, but biowaste sorting still lags behind

The amount of household waste generated per resident in Latvia has been steadily declining, dropping from 478 kilograms in 2020 to 464 kilograms in 2023, with forecasts suggesting the figure could fall to 450 kilograms by 2027. At the same time, the volume of unsorted household waste delivered to Getliņi, Latvia's largest landfill, has fallen for the seventh consecutive year, with a 24% decrease recorded last year.

Deposit scheme and sorting show strong results

The deposit return system has performed particularly well, with 84% of packaging returned in 2025. Separate collection of textiles has also begun, and collection of other waste categories continues to improve. Riga has made sorting containers mandatory, helping offset the fact that sorting infrastructure in Latvia's regions remains underdeveloped.

Biowaste and bulky items remain the weak spots

The biggest challenge is biowaste management, which accounts for up to 40% of total waste. In cities, separate collection is hampered by unsuitable containers, high tariffs, and a lack of bags provided to residents. Two successive parliaments have failed to explain why the biowaste tariff couldn't be set at zero to encourage sorting. Similarly unresolved is the issue of bulky items such as old furniture, with little progress on their repair, refurbishment or recycling, alongside slow advances in construction waste recycling.

Community initiatives and a call to skip incinerators

Positive developments are emerging at the local level, with circular economy hubs and item-swapping initiatives spreading across Riga neighborhoods and other Latvian towns, including in Bolderāja, Sarkandaugava and Dārzciems. The first Circular Economy Forum was held in Riga this spring. However, systemic national-level support and implementation of a circular economy plan remain slow, and little attention is paid to education and skills development in this field. The article's author, a member of Zero Waste Latvia, argues that building new waste incineration plants — as several investors have proposed in recent years near Riga — is unnecessary, calling the technology outdated and polluting. She calls on the next parliament to address the known gaps to keep Latvia moving toward a circular economy.