RIGA, Sept 17 (LETA) - Getlini Eko, the operator of the Getlini landfill, is planning to raise the municipal waste disposal tariff by approximately 90 percent from next year, the company said on Friday.

The new tariff will apply to mixed municipal waste delivered to Getlini landfill from Riga, as well as Adazi, Marupe, Kekava, Ropazi, Ogre, Sigulda (except Krimulda and Ledurga counties), Olaine, Salaspils and Saulkrasti regions, as well as from part of Bauska Region - Bauska town and Brunava, Ceraukste, Code, Davini, Gailisi, Islice, Mezotne and Vecsaule counties.

Getlini Eko submitted its draft tariffs to the Public Utilities Commission at the beginning of September. The tariffs have been calculated according to different natural resource tax rates. Pursuant to the current regulation, the natural resource tax that applies to the amount of waste buried at the landfill is EUR 65 euros per ton this year, EUR 80 per ton in 2022, and EUR 95 per ton from 2023.

If the natural resources tax rate is EUR 65 per ton, the current waste disposal tariff is EUR 66.55 per ton, while the new tariff is projected at EUR 126.83 per ton, which is 90.6 percent more than at this time. When the natural resources tax increases to EUR 80 per ton, the waste disposal tariff will increase from EUR 72.29 per ton to EUR 137.46 per ton, which is 90.2 percent more. Once the natural resources tax rate rises to EUR 95 per ton, the waste disposal tariff will increase 89.8 percent to EUR 148.1 per ton from the current EUR 78.04 per ton.

According to Getlini Eko, the new tariffs could come into force on January 1, 2022.

According to the company, the tariff changes are due to the construction and operation of new landfill infrastructure, an increase in fixed asset depreciation costs related to landfill infrastructure investments, commissioning of a new biodegradable waste recycling plant, environmental impact reduction costs, staff overheads, and others.

Consequently, Getlini Eko plans to increase the tariff for residents from EUR 66.55 per ton to EUR 126.83 per ton.

Getlini Eko operates the largest municipal solid waste landfill in Latvia.