Reusable textiles and footwear can be dropped off at ZAAO ECO sites

Ginta Gailuma, Head of ZAAO’s Sorting Department: “Thank you to the residents who sort textile materials responsibly, thereby reducing the amount of waste sent for disposal at the landfill. I would like to remind you that, at present, only materials that are still suitable for use may be handed in, as stipulated by our agreement with our cooperation partner. Please note that larger quantities of textiles and footwear should be taken to ECO sites, where several containers are available. We recommend using the public containers for individual items and, under no circumstances, leaving bags next to the containers, as textiles become dirty and unsuitable for wearing due to weather conditions and because stray domestic animals may gain access to them in such cases.”

Textile-sorting containers are available at 20 “ZAAO” ECO sites—in Aloja, Ape, Augšlīgatne, Cēsis, Valmiera, Jaunpiebalga, Krimulda, Limbaži, Mazsalaca, Rauna, Rūjiena, Salacgrīva, Saulkrasti, Smiltene, Strenči, Valka, Taurene and Daibe—as well as at five retail locations in Cēsis and Valmiera.

Residents are invited to place reusable clothing, footwear and household textiles in the textile-sorting containers.

To promote the reuse of textiles, clothing soiled with household chemicals or motor oil, as well as wet or mouldy clothing that could damage material suitable for recycling, must not be placed in the sorting containers. Torn clothing and fabric remnants must likewise not be placed in the textile-sorting containers.

Clothing, footwear and household textiles must be delivered to ECO sites in maximally transparent bags with a capacity of up to 50 litres, so that ECO site supervisors can visually assess whether the material meets the requirements.

Suitable items include shirts, trousers, jackets, coats, scarves, gloves, hats, towels, curtains, belts, bags, bed linen, bedspreads, pillows and blankets, as well as footwear suitable for wearing (excluding rubber footwear and specialised winter sports footwear—skates and ski boots).

All materials sorted in the textile-sorting containers will be sent to the textile-sorting centre of SIA “Eco Baltia vide” in Tukums, where they will be sorted into more than 30 different categories according to their potential further use—for reuse or recycling.

Please note that only textiles handed in separately are suitable for further use and recycling. Textile products must not be placed in containers intended for paper, polymers, metal or glass packaging. Textiles thrown into unsorted household-waste containers will also not be separated for recycling, as they become dirty and damaged there and are no longer suitable for further use! If material is regularly left beside the containers at retail locations, the removal of the containers will be considered, leaving the service available only at ECO sites.

 

Information prepared by:

Zane Leimane

Public Relations Specialist at SIA ZAAO