Acting on information from local residents, an exceptionally large quantity of hazardous waste was discovered in an area managed by AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) in Pope parish, Ventspils district. On finding the contamination, LVM as the landowner immediately began collecting the hazardous substances and passing them on for appropriate treatment, working together with the South-West Regional Environmental Board in order to prevent possible environmental pollution. Administrative offence proceedings have been launched over the breach.

In the Mētras section of the LVM Ziemeļkurzeme region, specialists found substances of unknown origin poured across an area of at least 120 m² of forest, giving off a strong chemical odour.

“When we surveyed the site, we identified a large quantity of hazardous waste, and through a procurement process we engaged a company holding a hazardous waste management permit to collect it. Almost 39 tonnes of hazardous substances were collected from the forest in total, and the overall cost came to more than 11 thousand euros,” explains Lauris Ķemlers, Head of Silviculture for the LVM Ziemeļkurzeme region.

In the course of the administrative proceedings, the State Environmental Service managed to establish which company was responsible; it holds a waste management permit that covers, among other things, the collection and transport of hazardous waste. Permits of this kind have been issued to 19 companies in Latvia.

To reduce the amount of waste illegally dumped in forests, residents are urged to act responsibly and not to litter in the forest. If you notice large quantities of waste in the forest, please report it using the “Vides SOS” app.

https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7657-lvm-savac-liela-apjoma-bistamos-atkritumus-ventspils-novada