Abstract
Abstract Inadequate municipal waste management, associated with a dominance of waste landfilling and low efficiency of resource and energy recovery, is the major challenge towards circular economy targets for some European Union countries, including Latvia. The aim of the study is to evaluate environmental performance from implementation of waste management policy goals in waste management systems of Latvia applying life cycle assessment methodology. The waste management system in Latvia was evaluated for two scenarios: baseline situation (based on statistical data from 2016) and future scenario – 2030. Baseline scenario assessment results show the existing material and energy recovery potential from municipal solid waste generated in Latvia. Meanwhile, results obtained from the 2030 scenario demonstrated that boosting recovery rates of plastic by 20 % and organic waste by 20 % can contribute to the minimization of life cycle environmental impacts (human health, resources, climate change, ecosystems) by 1.8 % and organic by 3.6 % correspondingly.
Highlights
In 2016, around a quarter or 25.2 % of total municipal waste generated in Latvia was recycled and in 2018 this indicator did not change – 25.2 %, it can be concluded that the development of waste treatment and recycling in Latvia is in the process of stagnation
An assessment of waste recycling in the Baltic States shows that nearly 100 kg of waste per capita is being recycled in Estonia and Lithuania, while in Latvia this rate was 92 kg per capita in 2015
The present study presents the life cycle assessment of Latvia’s MW management system for two scenarios – present situation or business as usual and future waste management scenario which foresees the achievement of the 2030 waste management targets
Summary
In 2016, around a quarter or 25.2 % of total municipal waste generated in Latvia was recycled and in 2018 this indicator did not change – 25.2 %, it can be concluded that the development of waste treatment and recycling in Latvia is in the process of stagnation. In Latvia the proportion of municipal waste recycling compared to the EU 28 average is almost twice lower. In Estonia, this indicator is low – 28.1 % in 2016 and 28.0 % in 2018, while in Lithuania this rate is slightly above the EU average – 48 % in 2016 and 52.5% in 2018, which is the best indicator among the three Baltic States [1]. An assessment of waste recycling in the Baltic States shows that nearly 100 kg of waste per capita is being recycled in Estonia and Lithuania, while in Latvia this rate was 92 kg per capita in 2015. While the amount of waste landfilled differs sharply among the Baltic countries – from approximately 38 kg per capita in Estonia to 263 kg per capita in Latvia [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
