About us

The increasing amount of waste has persuaded the European Union Member States to search for sustainable solutions. Latvia is solving the situation by adopting the principle of producer responsibility, i.e. the way a company handles its products and its packaging after they become waste.  

The companies that produce or import packaged goods or produce or import electric and electronic equipment and goods harmful to the environment (car batteries, batteries, car tires,  car lubricant oils and filters) are compelled by the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia to prevent or to balance the environmental impact of the waste caused by their economic activities. This must be done either by paying the Natural Resources Tax (proceeds are used to finance the implementation of environment protection projects) or by ensuring the  management of this waste – separate collection, recycling, recovery and regeneration.

Mission Statement

Latvijas Zaļais punkts (LZP) organizes the recycling of packaging waste, waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste goods harmful to the environment (WGHE) on the behalf of companies based on a multi-annual action plan approved by the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund. LZP was founded on January 11, 2000 and is the oldest and most experienced producers’ responsibility organization in Latvia that has been taking care of packaging waste management since its foundation. Since 2006 LZP has also been dealing with waste electric and electronic equipment and waste goods harmful to the environment. 

The mission of LZP is to ensure an effective system for managing waste packaging, WEEE and WGHE collection system in every region of Latvia.  In order to achieve the aim, LZP cooperates with the local municipalities by concluding agreements on the introduction of waste management system in  the respective administrative territory. Thus LZP gains both the support of the local municipality as well as a new  partner – a waste management organization designated by the municipality with which LZP cooperates to implement, maintain and to improve the system within the administrative territory of the respective municipality. Waste management organizations ensure the collection of the recyclable materials by setting up and emptying separate waste collection containers, setting up and maintaining  collection sites for WEEE and WGHE. LZP provides financial support for the collection of the recyclabe materials and organizes activities aimed at raising the public’s awareness on the necessity and possibilities of recycling within the municipality. The materials collected in Latvia are processed into raw materials in other countries.  

International Cooperation

Latvijas Zaļais punkts is a member of the Green Dot association "Packaging Recovery Organisation Europe s.p.r.l." (PRO Europe) which unites members representing 30 countries. LZP owns the exclusive right to use the Green Dot trademark in Latvia.

Since the foundation of the LZP a joint system has been developed for the collection of packaging waste, waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste goods harmful to the  environment  (WGHE) from companies and residents and a substantial amount of recycled raw materials have been delivered for processing.

Learn more about the achievements of Latvijas Zaļais punkts during its ten years of work!