2016

LVM and 28 local governments launch a new project to fight littering in natural environment areas

To stop the damage caused to nature and environment by littering, today informative banners were set up in 28 municipalities in Vidzeme and Latgale, in the natural areas where illegal waste disposal has been observed for a longer time. The banners say: "Do not litter! We live here!" to remind us that the littered sites are not left unnoticed, and they cause unacceptable living conditions for people and animals.

These banners are a part of a shared commitment of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM), the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, Vidzeme Planning Region and SIA "ZAAO" to the environmental initiative "100 Works for Latvia" dedicated to the Centennial of Latvia.

Photo: A banner in the carpark at Gaujasmala bathing site in Līgatne, Līgatne Municipality

Kaspars Gerhards, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development: "Every citizen should bear in mind that management of improperly discarded waste is done from their own taxes. The more money a local government needs to spend to collect waste left by dishonest citizens in forests, roadsides, lake shores and other inappropriate places, the less money there is to improve the quality of the living-space. For example, for setting up children's playgrounds and sports grounds, public bathing facilities. Such informative campaigns will help residents gain an understanding of the environment in which we live, how to make more environmentally friendly choices, and do not pollute it. Such an approach is much more effective and more motivating than any fines and penalties."

At the same time, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development reminds that a waste producer is obliged to enter into a contract for municipal waste collection with a waste manager, who has a contract with the local government. The Latvian Administrative Violations Code foresees a fine from EUR 70 to EUR 700 for natural persons and from EUR 430 to EUR 1400 for legal persons, if a waste producer fails to participate in the waste management organised by a local government.

"One of the strategic goals of LVM is to promote public awareness of environmental issues; therefore every year the company organises and gets involved in a number of environmental education projects, addressing different groups of people in Latvia - from pre-school and school students to their teachers and parents. LVM hand-in-hand with Pigman, the patron of clean forests, takes part in different environmental education activities and reminds people in Latvia to sort their waste and not litter forest, urges children to take responsibility for environment, promoting environmentally friendly thinking and raising awareness of what is valuable in nature, and what spoils it. Forests cover more than a half of the territory of Latvia, and we have enough of trees; but we do not want waste to cover the other part of the country," says LVM representative Ainārs Sedlenieks.

Photo. A banner next to Lake Ratnieki bathing site, in Augšlīgatne, Līgatne Municipality

"Local governments are investing significant resources, including taxpayers' money, to establish a waste management system and to build an affordable, convenient to use infrastructure for waste disposal in specially designated facilities. Clean-up is organised once a year, when we collect litter left by others, but it does not solve the problem. To deal with it, we need to rely on common sense, intelligence and conscience. Banners will help local governments to address consciousness of the persons littering environment, reminding them that such behaviour is unacceptable," says Aivars Sirmais, Chairman of the Board of ZAAO.

Mostly along roads, in parking areas, at forest edges and in bathing areas, the banners have been set up in all the 28 municipalities where ZAAO operates: Aloja, Amata, Ape, Baltinava, Balvi, Beverīna, Burtnieki, Cēsis, Jaunpiebalga, Kocēni, Krimulda, Līgatne, Limbaži, Mazsalaca, Naukšēni, Pārgauja, Priekuļi, Rauna, Rugāji, Rūjiena, Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Smiltene, Strenči, Valka, Vecpiebalga, Viļaka Municipalities and Valmiera City.

As reported before, in preparation for the Centennial of Latvia, waste management company ZAAO has launched an environmental initiative "100 Works for Latvia", and urges people to pool their knowledge, ideas, skills and resources to accomplish at least 100 significant works in environmental development, decoration and education by 18 November 2018. All interested are invited to register their environmental works on the website created for the initiative www.100darbilatvijai.lv. All the works will be immortalised in the "100 Works for Latvia" testimonies.

More information:

Līga Ivanova

+371 26464686