They Played with Ecology. The Jelgava Recycling Plant Pollutes the Air 0 18

The residents of Jelgava living near the Nordic Plast plastic recycling plant have become hostages of the situation, as they have to deal with an unpleasant odor on a daily basis.

In 2025, the State Environmental Service (VVD) received more than 60 complaints regarding this issue. After multiple inspections conducted by the service, the company decided to invest 1 million euros in the construction of ventilation and wastewater treatment equipment.

The Nordic Plast plastic recycling plant was located in Olaine for 23 years, but three years ago, production was moved to Jelgava. Approximately 15 tons of plastic are processed there each year, and an increase in capacity is planned. Complaints about the unpleasant smell have come from residents of private mansions and apartment buildings located near the plant.

Passerby Dace Vaitkeviča: “Yes, my son says there is an unpleasant smell. In fact, he even mentioned wanting to file a complaint, but he hasn’t decided to do so yet.”

Petra, a student from Finland living in Jelgava: “Sometimes I smell it when I open the window. But not all the time. Only sometimes when the wind blows from that direction.”

Last year, the VVD received 63 complaints from residents about the unpleasant smell caused by emissions from the plants. Similar complaints have also been received this year, confirmed the deputy director of the South-Western Regional Environmental Management of the VVD, Evita Beitlere:

“We found that there are exceedances from certain sources. A warning was issued regarding compliance with the conditions of the issued permit, and we conducted oversight, as a total of 11 inspections were carried out by the VVD in 2025.”

The company has been tasked with developing a new project for odor emission limits. It is necessary to improve wastewater management and reconstruct the ventilation systems.

The plant acknowledges the problem and promises to take measures.

“This smell arises during the recycling process, as we recycle packaging collected from sorted waste. There are biological impurities — residues of kefir, oil, everything used in households remains on the film. Then they are sorted and pressed into bales at sorting centers. When we open these bales to start recycling and produce new granules and secondary raw materials, this bouquet of smells appears,” explained Nordic Plast director Andris Trumars.

After receiving complaints and directives from the VVD, the company plans to invest around 1 million euros specifically to eliminate the odors.