Puce will try to convince coalition partners on necessity for state of emergency in Riga in relation to waste management

RIGA - Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Puce (For Development) will try to convince the coalition partners at the parliament to support the draft decision to declare state of emergency in Riga in the waste management sector.

"I think it is my responsibility to convince," the minister said.

Asked about what happens if the Saeima on Thursday votes against the state of emergency, Puce said that it is hard to tell that. "It is clear that the regulations on the state of emergency will lose force. It is a question how customers will be served without contracts," said Puce.

"The state of emergency would give time until adoption of a permanent regulation," he said.

Puce agreed that if Saeima rules against the state of emergency, nobody has to duty to collect waste in Riga. "It is a theoretical situation and at present there are no proposals how to solve it," the minister said.

As reported, starting from September 15, waste collection and management in Riga is being organized in line with a temporary plan based on the state of emergency status.

The Competition Council on September 9 banned the newly-established monopoly Tiriga from signing contracts with residents of Riga for a period of 20 years.

Contracts of the existing service providers are terminated as of September 15.

So far the waste collection and management services in Riga were provided by four operators - Clean R, Eco Baltia Vide, who both have joined in a new venture that won the tender, Pilsetvides Serviss and Lautus. The latter two were not ready to continue provision of services after September 15.