Seven habits that can help households cut down on waste
From 2035, landfills will be allowed to hold no more than 10% of household waste, while in Latvia the figure stood at 34% in 2024. Simple everyday habits are suggested to help residents produce less waste and save money.
A new rule will limit the share of household waste sent to landfills to just 10% starting in 2035. According to OECD data, Latvia still sent 34% of its household waste to landfills in 2024 — far above the future limit. This means that within the coming years, households will need to generate less waste and sort it more carefully, or otherwise face significantly higher costs for waste collection.
Practical everyday steps
One suggestion is to pause before every purchase and consider whether an item is truly needed — non-urgent purchases should be delayed by at least a day while considering how often the item would actually be used. Another tip concerns switching to a more sustainable lifestyle gradually rather than buying an entire set of eco-friendly products at once; it's more practical to start with one or two items that will genuinely be used, such as a lunch box or a reusable shopping bag.
It's also important to buy only as much food as can realistically be eaten, checking the fridge before shopping and roughly planning meals for a few days ahead. Food that won't be eaten in time can be frozen rather than left to spoil. At home, it helps to set up a convenient sorting spot in or near the kitchen for glass, packaging and biological waste, and to reduce the use of disposable packaging by choosing cloth bags and a personal thermos instead.
Before throwing something away, it's worth considering whether it can be repaired, reused, or passed on — used clothing, books or furniture can be sold through online marketplaces, donated, or textiles placed in dedicated collection bins. Finally, when giving gifts, it helps to ask the recipient what they actually need, to avoid unwanted items eventually ending up as waste.
