Riga is set to change its waste management practices starting March 1, 2027, due to new regulations passed by the city council. The rules will require residents to sort their waste into designated containers for paper, plastics, metals, and organic materials. Opposition council members have raised concerns that mandatory separate collection of organic waste will impose additional costs on citizens, sparking a debate about the financial implications of the new waste management approach.

Under the new regulations, green waste containers will be required at both apartment buildings and private homes. Households that choose to compost on their own property will have the option to forgo the green waste containers. Furthermore, composting will be permitted in the enclosed courtyards of apartment complexes, as long as certain requirements are met to maintain public health and hygiene.

The new rules also specify that the minimum frequency for waste collection will be every eight weeks for non-sorted, paper, plastic, and glass waste, while organic waste must be collected at least once every four weeks. Beginning March 1, 2027, waste management companies will be tasked with ensuring compliance with these new sorting regulations, which are aimed at increasing recycling rates and reducing landfill waste in the capital.