The binding regulations of the local government provide that apartment building managers have a duty from March 1 to ensure the sorting of biological waste by apartment buildings with more than ten apartments. This requirement applies to multi-apartment dwellings where it is not possible to compost this bio-waste.
In reality, though, most homes have not yet done it.
When asked why the wider campaign only begins now, the Chairman of Riga City Council's Housing and Environment Committee Viesturs Zeps replied: “With varying intensity, we've tried to implement it in previous years. Let's be real, move from voluntary to coercive at some point. Actually we anticipate that we will be able to install these bins outside any house by May 1.”
So far, there are about 2,000 containers of biological waste in the capital, both in front of private homes and apartment blocks. About 5,000 more containers of different sizes must still be set up.
The municipality also hopes to promote the sorting of biological waste at lower costs. The biowaste management fee is around 60% of the unsorted municipal waste management fee this year.
Fruit, vegetables, their cores, bark, as well as nuts, meat and fish waste, cereals, preparations thereof, eggshells, coffee and tea grounds (without bags), cheese and other solid milk products, bread and farinaceous products may be discarded. Gardening waste - plants and their roots, weeds, mowed grass and leaves, as well as tree branches and small shrubs etc - may also be discarded.
Thick branches and stumps, plastic bags and packaging, flower pots, paper and plastic containers, egg packs, litter and feces of pets, ash, coal and smoke, stones, agricultural residues, diapers and sanitary towels are not be allowed.
