The junk box is located near a landfill site called “Ķīvītes.” About a year and a half ago, employees created a book exchange point in the company's courtyard. In the meantime, the population started to bring a variety of household objects, and a cargo container was purchased and equipped for their placement.
Zane Ruperta, chief environmental management specialist at the landfill, explained: “People often when bringing waste, say – now I have glass, paper, cardboard, electronics. And there are things that aren't relevant to the sorting area, but [..] still useful, household items, dishes. Where to put it? So then, we look – there are things that should not really be buried, so we started this idea of a junk chamber.”
Ilze Grīsle, head of the customer service center, said: “[Residents] are very pleased that you can pass things on to someone else, that you don't have to discard. The same children's items – they are not deteriorating, can be useful for another, which is the greatest pleasure. The largest was a folding baby bed. The man was so glad when he saw it! It was in a very, very good condition.”
The exchange point is maintained by the landfill Liepājas RAS. Similar exchange points are intended to be created in each of the ten waste management regions of Latvia.
