Platform lietovelreiz.lv will provide opportunities to rent or hire items, find a good master for repairs, and get second-hand goods for free or at a symbolic cost, project introducers from the association Zero Waste Latvija described the website.
The site lietovelreiz.lv is similar to an advertisement page.
"It is a platform designed to facilitate the way residents across Latvia can find repair or rental services, including other sharing services that replace the purchase of new things and maybe reduce demand for new things," said project manager Evija Ozola-Ozoliņa.
A map is available on page where you can find the repair options or second-hand goods of the service providers closest to your location.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has surveyed public attitudes towards re-use of second-hand goods.
"The data shows that men, for example, are less likely than women to buy second-hand household items and building materials. Women are the ones who buy second-hand textiles more than men, but still, a large proportion of the population do not buy second-hand goods, both for hygiene reasons and because there is no such need,” said Alise Vecozola, head of the Ministry's LIFE Project Implementation Unit.
Young people are more likely to buy second-hand goods, the survey says.
The site is a part of a larger comprehensive project. Latvia's multi-million waste recycling project will run for another five years. During this period, the state has committed itself to creating a system throughout Latvia that will provide the general public with the opportunity to reuse resources.
