Sigulda residents actively engage in reuse of items and electronics
Sigulda has a swap cabinet and electronics repair workshop that give unwanted items a second life, according to waste management company SIA 'Jumis'.
Item swap points are gaining popularity in Latvia, allowing people to pass on things they no longer need. One example is the swap cabinet at the 'Zemdegas' waste sorting site in Sigulda, set up in collaboration with 'Latvijas Zaļais punkts'. Residents can leave clean, usable items such as dishes, books, toys, sports equipment, and household goods. In its first year, over 1,000 items were deposited, most of which found new homes.
This circular approach also covers electronics. Devices that can still be repaired are sent to 'Lab! darbnīca', a workshop established by 'Eco Baltia vide' with support from the EU LIFE programme. Technicians assess and restore them; the repaired items are then donated or sold at the 'Lab! veikals' store in Riga at lower prices. This reduces e-waste and conserves resources.
Textile sorting is also important. In Sigulda and the surrounding region, residents can put clean clothing, shoes, and household textiles into special containers. Some are prepared for reuse, including in the vintage section of 'Lab! veikals', while others are recycled into materials like furniture stuffing.
SIA 'Jumis' encourages residents to continue sorting and using swap points. A recent customer survey found that 88% of Sigulda residents sort waste, compared to 79% nationally. 74% sort electronics, 62% sort textiles, and 10% have already used the swap cabinet.
