Riga, May 22 (LETA) - Vidzeme waste management company ZAAO plans to implement 10-12 investment projects by 2035, said Gints Kukainis, Chairman of the Board of ZAAO, in an interview with LETA.

The planned investment projects include the expansion of biogas and biomethane production capacities and the expansion of sorting capacities.

The company has also prepared documents so that construction waste can be prepared at ZAAO and then reused with documents confirming the conformity of the materials, which is not a developed area in Latvia, Kukainis emphasized.

"We are also preparing for the recycling of sludge, as well as the expansion of the environmental education center - we already have premises for a laboratory and a hall where we train students free of charge. We also plan to expand training for adults and businesses throughout Vidzeme," Kukainis said in an interview.

ZAAO also plans to set up a center where, in cooperation with social enterprises, it will refurbish second-hand goods such as furniture, prams, bicycles and other goods.

Kukainis stressed that he would like to implement these projects in the next two to three years.

The investment volume for this and the next years is around EUR 15 million, Kukainis stressed. He said that negotiations with commercial banks are ongoing and an agreement has been reached on the availability of funding.

According to Firmas.lv, last year ZAAO posted a turnover of EUR 15.408 million, 26.8 percent more than the year before, while its profit increased 4.5 times to EUR 272,664.

The company was registered in 1998 and has a share capital of EUR 3,252,078. ZAAO is owned by the municipalities of Valmiera, Cesis, Limbazi, Smiltene, Gulbene, Aluksne, Madona, Valka, Saulkrasti, Sigulda and Balvi. The Group includes ZAAO and ZAAO Energija.