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A special task force at the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry has concluded that investing in a container deposit system would not be efficient, and that waste sorting system would make more sense through building new sorting lines and buying containers for individual waste types.

In total, EUR 41 million has been earmarked for the waste management system in Latvia during the new European Union funding period. The container deposit legislation would require EUR 20 million to EUR 26 million. However, containers make just a small part of the total amount of waste for them to be allocated this much funds, explained Ozola.

The decision has been taken to meet the EU requirements on waste management, as the current strategy would not achieve this by 2020.

At the same time, requirements will be heightened on producers regarding the collection of packaging of the products they bring to the market. Funds will also be allotted for educating society about waste sorting. The Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry will also offer support for the development of waste management systems in the regions.

The Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry's decision is supported by waste management companies, which indicate that a mandatory container deposit system would be too costly and that waste management companies presently concentrate on waste sorting.

The container deposit legislation was originally planned to come into effect in Latvia at the beginning of this year. The legislation would apply to PET and glass bottles and metallic cans for non-alcoholic and light alcoholic beverages.

The government approved the legislation in 2013.