The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has conceptually approved amendments to the Waste Management Law to establish a national deposit system for e-cigarettes. This policy aims to curb environmental pollution and address safety risks associated with rapidly growing electronic smoking device waste.
Under the proposed system, consumers will pay a deposit fee when purchasing an e-cigarette, which will be refunded when the used device is returned to a collection point. Manufacturers and distributors will be required to contract with a designated system operator.
Kaspars Briškens, chair of the responsible parliamentary committee, highlighted the urgency of the measure. “The deposit system will ensure that e-cigarettes are collected and recycled in a safe and controlled manner, reducing pollution and preventing hazardous materials from entering the environment,” Briškens stated.
According to the Latvian Association of Waste Management Companies, residents discarded approximately 15 million e-cigarettes in 2023, but only 5% were recycled. The remaining 95% ended up in municipal waste and landfills. The Ministry of Climate and Energy reported that lithium-ion batteries cause 48% of fires in the waste management sector, posing a threat to public safety.
The Ministry of Climate and Energy prepared the amendments, which are scheduled to take effect on October 1. The bill requires two additional readings in the Saeima before becoming law.
