Industrial noise 24/7 affecting local residents in Riga
Since 2021, when SIA Livonia Print built the outdoor Nestro filter at Jūrkalnes iela 15/25, the neighbourhood has lived for five years with constant industrial noise, 24/7. As the State Environmental Service confirmed in writing in August 2026, no polluting activity permit has been issued for this operation and no noise conditions have been set. This site documents reports, measurements, recordings, and the status of noise-mitigation efforts.
The municipal building inspector has found unauthorised construction on the company's premises
A constant low-frequency hum — 95% of the time
The loudness varies with wind direction and obstacles, but for most of the time the noise is audible. Residents describe it as a continuous, low hum that is perceptible indoors as well. Measurements taken in August 2026 found a dominant component in the 315 Hz band in the installation's spectrum; the question whether a conclusion about low frequencies can properly be drawn from A-weighted data has been put to the Health Inspectorate.
Measurements and limits can be played with to formally stay within the permitted decibels on paper. But in real life — in calm weather and on quiet evenings and nights, when other sounds fade — this low hum becomes especially noticeable, exhausting and disturbing.
The hum passes through walls and windows
Low-frequency sound is the hardest to block — it penetrates walls and windows and is felt in the body as vibration. Closed windows do not stop it.
Harmful to health and children
Continuous, steady noise during the night hours is particularly disruptive to sleep and raises stress and anxiety. Children's still-developing nervous systems are especially sensitive to it.
Audible even from ~500 m
The low hum carries far — it is clearly and disturbingly audible even about 500 metres away, well beyond the nearest houses.
How the noise spreads 360° in every direction — 24 hours a day
The red dot is the noise source — the Nestro industrial filter on the SIA Livonia Print premises, entrance 19A. The waves show how the hum spreads continuously in every direction — up to roughly 500 metres across residential streets.
Recordings from the affected streets
Files are unedited and available for independent review. Listen with headphones to hear the low-frequency hum.
The Nestro industrial filter
The noise source is the outdoor Nestro industrial filter on the SIA Livonia Print premises by entrance 19A. It runs continuously, with no additional acoustic enclosure. Nestro itself offers noise-reduction solutions for such equipment — yet none are installed.
The photos and recordings document a matter of public interest — noise affecting the neighbourhood — were obtained lawfully, without any unauthorised entry, and published in good faith for public information (Articles 100 and 115 of the Constitution of Latvia).
Millions in turnover — but not one acoustic enclosure
The figures below are publicly available data on SIA Livonia Print. They show a company with significant resources and strong environmental messaging. That makes it all the harder to understand why a modest noise-mitigation solution for nearby residents still has not been implemented.
One of the largest book printers in the Baltics. Jūrkalnes iela 15/25, Riga, LV-1046. Reg. no. 40003827729. The plant relocated to this address in 2021 — when the noisy Nestro filter was built.
What workers and others say about the company
Below are public third-party reviews from the sudzibas.lv portal — quoted verbatim and with source links. These are the opinions and experiences of their authors, not our assertions. Names are kept as published at the source (pseudonyms).
“Bad working conditons, bullying, the managers themselves don't understand what they are doing there, chaos, the little directors give orders, work schedules are only drawn up on the last day etc. They count the minutes and seconds of how long you are in the toilet, constant threats, children have to be left at home and they make you take extra shifts. I would have kept quiet, but here someone is writing words of praise which are untrue — stay away from that company.”
“Please turn to the State Labour Inspectorate. Both about the violations in granting leave and about the unsuitable working conditions, as a result of which there is harm to health.”
“Thank God D*** L*** no longer works at the company; she had driven countless employees to despair with her offensive and arrogant attitude. She mocked people and threatened to fire everyone if they did not do as she wanted.”
“I worked there in the office years ago, a similar situation there too — the only workplace where I experienced bullying. On the positive side, it was the place where I understood what kind of environment I do NOT want to work in. Thanks to Livonia for that at least.”
“Inhuman and disgusting attitude from the side of higher-ranking persons. You have to use your own phone for work purposes, and the costs are not reimbursed; the premises cannot be ventilated, in summer the room temperature is 35 degrees, which with such premises and working with chemicals is not normal. It can happen that some shift foreman promises you a punch in the face if you do not do things his way. Someone from the labour inspectorate ought to pay a visit here!”
“Even in prison the guards are more considerate towards prisoners than the LIVONIA PRINT workshop supervisors are towards their subordinate workers on the shop floor.”
“Sad, but even in such a respectable company as Livonija Print SIA the employment law is grossly violated. Women are assigned to work at which even Raimonds Bergmanis would have a hard time. To be continued…”
“Livonia Print is a paradise for lower-level bosses. The company consists of 80% bosses and supervisors who earn more than any worker. Workers are continually promised a pay rise, but in reality the money is added to the bosses, who in turn are not always productive and sometimes do not even grasp the situation and are unable to manage their subordinates. If you have decided to be a little director or a little manager — Livonia Print is the right place, you will not be disappointed. If you have decided to be a worker in post-press, the warehouse or the shop floor — do not hope for growth either in money or in career, that is how it is arranged there.”
“If there is any possibility at all, do not go to work at Livonia Print SIA. Especially as an ordinary employee. On the shop floor you sometimes have to work 12h night shifts 5 times in a row. They do not pay for overtime. They promise, they do not pay, and anyway the quotas cannot be met — apparently they keep raising them in the computers all the time. A slave institution.”
“Yeeees, Livonia Print enslaves women and makes them lift sheets which, in my opinion, are about 8 kg heavy. Well, my back at the age of 21 is finished, so I was even glad that they did not extend the contract.”
“I worked for 7 months and suddenly they decided to dismiss me. The reasons were — being ill and a couple of changes to shift days. They announced it to me 8 days before I had to stop working, because here there is no probation period like in other jobs — here they can extend your contracts as much as they want so that they do not have to pay more! A terrible place. I do not wish anyone to work here!”
“The company is so good that within a year it cannot even issue an employee a uniform; they promise growth and good working conditions, but in reality they drive you like a dog, so that there is not even really time to eat lunch, and afterwards they still dump on you that you work sloppily.”
Quotes are reproduced from the publicly available sudzibas.lv portal for public information, with source links preserved. They are the opinions of third parties, for whose content their authors are responsible.
A message to Livonia Print's partners and publishers
You choose Livonia Print partly for its sustainability pledges — CO₂ neutrality, Nordic Swan, FSC. Yet just a few steps from the plant, families, children and the elderly have spent a year living against a backdrop of constant industrial noise. Sustainability is not only the carbon footprint of paper — it is also how a company treats the people and nature on its own doorstep. We ask you to put one question to your partner: why is the noise problem still not resolved?
A documented record of events
Plant relocates and the Nestro filter is installed
SIA Livonia Print relocates to Jūrkalnes iela 15/25 and installs the outdoor Nestro industrial filter. As the State Environmental Service confirmed in writing in 2026, no polluting activity permit has been issued for this equipment and the noise it produces has never been assessed. Ever since, the surrounding neighbourhoods have endured constant noise — for five years now.
Resident complaints — for five years
Since 2021, residents of 12 streets have complained non-stop about the noise, 24/7. Windows cannot be opened — neither at night nor during the day. Particular concern for the health and sleep of young children. The complaints are ignored.
The Health Inspectorate's 2024 inspection — no measurements were taken
Following the residents' submission of 18.09.2024, the Health Inspectorate carried out an inspection at Irlavas iela 34 on 25.09.2024 (inspection act No. 00429124). The Inspectorate itself confirmed that at the junction of Irlavas and Mikus streets the noise from the company's side is more clearly audible, and that the Nestro extractor is also visible from there. The conclusions state that what was set out in the submission was partly confirmed — noise from the operation of the company's equipment is audible in the building's yard and at the street junction. No noise measurements were taken during the inspection. The Inspectorate explained that limit values are assessed indoors with windows and doors closed — which is precisely why such a method cannot reflect the actual nuisance, since the windows are kept shut because of the noise itself.
Official letter to the Chairman of the Board
On 22 June 2026 an official letter was sent to Mr Trond Erik Isaksen demanding acoustic insulation around the Nestro filter.
SIA Livonia Print's reply (No. 2026-1-3/21)
The company replied, disputing the website and asking for clarifications, but did not commit to installing soundproofing. It plans only to carry out noise measurements in the third quarter. This is a predictable move: such measurements are taken with windows closed, so for the neighbours they are effectively useless. There is no concrete solution. Do residents really have to wait several more months just to get useless measurements that will serve only as the company's legal cover?
Next official letter
On 4 July 2026 the community sent the next official letter demanding a concrete soundproofing plan and deadline. The only response received was an automatic acknowledgement: “Thank you, your email has been received and forwarded to the responsible person.” (Z*** C***). No reply on the merits has been received.
Reminder sent
On 14.07.2026 a reminder was sent about the noise and our previous request. Again, the only response was an automatic acknowledgement: “Hello! Thank you, your email has been received and forwarded to the responsible person.” (A*** M***, office administrator). No reply on the merits has been received.
Noise detected again — still no reply
On Sunday, 19.07.2026 at 09:00 the noise from the Nestro filter was again clearly detected. The letters of 04.07. and 14.07. were sent directly to Board Member Mr Trond Erik Isaksen as well as to [email protected] — no reply has been received, nor any answer about the pollution permit and our other questions. We continue to monitor the noise every day; if necessary, legal action will be initiated. The site will be made easier to find in search engines, so that even more neighbours learn about the situation.
The municipality finds unauthorised construction
Following the residents' submission, the chief building inspector of the City Development Department of Riga City Municipality inspected the site on 04.08.2026. In its letter of 07.08.2026, No. DA-26-22351-nd, the Department states that the metal-structure wood-chip storage tank erected next to the production building beside entrance No. 19 qualifies as unauthorised construction, and that a decision on eliminating the consequences will be taken. No final decision has yet been taken.
A new letter to the company — awaiting a reply
On 09.08.2026 a new letter was sent to the company: the noise is unchanged, and no substantive reply has been received since 29.06.2026. Three specific questions were put — whether any noise-reduction work is currently in progress and by what date it will be completed; whether the promised accredited measurement has been carried out; and, if nothing is being done, a request to say so plainly. A reply was requested by 14.08.2026.
The company offers a meeting but does not answer the questions
The company replied to the community's letter and offered a meeting at its office on 11, 12 or 13 August. However, the questions put to it were once again left unanswered. The community does not decline the meeting and is ready to attend. At the same time we have asked for a written answer first to a question raised as long ago as 04.07.2026, and a very simple one: will the sound insulation be installed — yes or no — and by what date. Without that answer the meeting will most likely only repeat what is already in the correspondence.
The company answers about measurements, but not about a solution
The company replied to the community's letter. It stated that an accredited environmental noise measurement has been ordered and will be carried out during August, and that only after the results are received will it be possible to decide on further measures. The exact date, locations, methodology and laboratory were not given — the community has asked for these in writing, together with the limit values against which the results will be assessed and whether the measurements will also cover night hours. The community does not object to the measurement. However, the question raised as long ago as 04.07.2026 remains unanswered: will an acoustic enclosure around the filter and sound insulation of the air ducts be installed — yes or no. The questions about the company's polluting activity permit and the noise conditions it contains have also gone unanswered. In the letter of 11.08.2026 these questions were put again and directly. All correspondence is documented and is provided to the competent authorities on request.
State Environmental Service: no permit, no noise conditions
In reply to the community's submission of 23.07.2026, the State Environmental Service (Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board) confirmed in writing that no polluting activity permit has been issued to SIA “Livonia Print”. Only a registration exists — a category C polluting activity certificate No. RI15IC0045, issued on 19.02.2015, which relates to a combustion installation (a 586 kW gas burner in the ink-drying unit). The Service states that at registration the equipment installed at the company is not assessed, noise limit values are not assessed, and no public information or participation is provided for. Accordingly, no noise conditions have ever been set for the Nestro filter installed in 2021. On 29.07.2026 the Service carried out an inspection at the site and stated that noise control is not within its competence — that is the Health Inspectorate. During the inspection a company representative informed the Service that an accredited laboratory would carry out noise measurements on 14.08.2026; the community learned this date from the Service's reply.
The Ministry: the measurements were ordered by the State Environmental Service
The Ministry of Climate and Energy's letter of 21.08.2026, No. 1-17/2708, was received. The Ministry had requested information from the State Environmental Service about inspections at the site. Three significant facts follow from the reply. First, at the inspection of 29.07.2026 the Service established that the dust-cleaning installation produces noise. Second, the Service instructed the company to carry out noise measurements by 30.08.2026 — so the measurements are not a voluntary initiative by the company but an instruction from the supervisory authority. Third, once the results have been received and assessed, the Service will decide on further action. The Service has also requested information from the Health Inspectorate about the inspection carried out on 25.09.2024. The Ministry points to subparagraph 14.1 of Cabinet Regulation No. 16, which provides that noise sources are to be fitted with sound limiters, or the territory enclosed with noise-damping structures, where compliance with the limit values cannot be ensured otherwise; at the same time the Ministry notes that this requirement does not apply automatically and depends on the specific situation.
The property owner has been written to twice — no reply received
The industrial installation stands in the Jūrkalne Technology Park — a site whose owner and manager is not SIA “Livonia Print”. According to publicly available information the park is managed by EfTEN Capital. The community wrote to the park's manager twice: on 09.08.2026, a written notification about a continuous noise source on the site and about the municipality's finding concerning the lawfulness of a structure there — sent to three of the company's e-mail addresses — and on 23.08.2026, a reminder. No reply has been received on either occasion. The reason the community approached the owner is paragraph 13 of Cabinet Regulation No. 16: liability for exceeding noise limit values rests with the person in whose ownership or use the noise source is. We do not claim that the owner is liable, or that it previously knew of the situation — we record only that we have informed it in writing and that no reply has been received. If we receive a reply or an explanation, we will publish it in full.
Measurements carried out — no exceedance; the community submits questions
From 12 to 14.08.2026 an accredited laboratory, commissioned by the company, carried out noise measurements at two locations: on the boundary of the residential property at Irlavas iela 34 and at the installation itself. Results: by day 54.9 dB(A) with the filter running and 55.1 dB(A) with it off; in the evening 52.3 dB(A); at night 46.8 dB(A) running and 45.3 dB(A) off. The limit values applied to the territory are 65/60/55 dB(A). Conclusion: the limits are not exceeded, and the main noise sources at the building are given as traffic on Rucavas and Irlavas streets. A dominant component in the 315 Hz band was found in the installation's spectrum. We do not dispute these results and do not question the laboratory's competence. At the same time we note what the measurements do not mean: compliance with limit values does not mean there is no noise. At night the difference between the installation running and switched off is measurable, and at its inspection of 29.07.2026 the State Environmental Service itself established that the installation produces noise. For residents nothing has changed. The Service has passed the reports to the Health Inspectorate for assessment and will decide on further action after its opinion. On 07.09.2026 the community submitted nine methodological questions to the Inspectorate — on assessing low frequencies from A-weighted data, on the comparability of the residual-noise measurements, on the absence of a residual measurement in the evening period, on measurement uncertainty not being taken into account, on the tonality assessment, on meteorological conditions, on the height of the measurement point, and on the limit values applied. The community is also considering commissioning independent measurements from another accredited laboratory — in the evening and night periods and with a low-frequency assessment — and will continue to use the channels provided by law.
Seventh letter to the company — one question: yes or no
The neighbourhood sent SIA “Livonia Print” a seventh letter. This time the question was deliberately narrowed to one: does the company intend to do anything about this noise — yes or no. The letter fairly acknowledges that the company kept its promise to carry out accredited measurements, while pointing out that compliance with limit values is not the same as the absence of a nuisance: a measurement report changes nothing about what is audible in flats every evening and every night. No reply has been received. Since the letter of 29.06.2026 the company has not answered the community’s correspondence once, no sound insulation has been fitted and no concrete solution has been offered.
Current status — unresolved
The noise continues 24 hours a day and the installation runs exactly as before. The accredited measurements carried out in August 2026 showed that the limit values set for the territory are not exceeded, but they also confirmed that the installation does produce noise: at night the difference between the filter running and switched off is measurable. No sound insulation has been fitted and no concrete solution has been offered. The question of whether it will be installed — yes or no, and by what date — has gone unanswered since 04.07.2026, and since the letter of 29.06.2026 the company has not replied to the community’s correspondence once. The most recent reminder was sent on 21.09.2026. We are awaiting the Health Inspectorate’s opinion on the measurement reports and the State Environmental Service’s decision. Our request remains unchanged: install an acoustic enclosure around the Nestro filter and sound insulation of the air ducts.
How the noise affects residents
What SIA Livonia Print must do
The fix is not complex and does not require stopping production — it only takes the will to do it.
Soundproofing the Nestro filter and air ducts
Install a noise-damping enclosure around the Nestro filter and soundproofing on the ventilation channels and air ducts. This would significantly reduce the noise level across the whole neighbourhood.
Tell us how the noise is affecting your life
Report how this noise affects your daily life, or contact us. Every report strengthens the shared neighbourhood case. Audio or video recordings help even more.
✉ Write to us: [email protected]This is a direct message to you. We wrote to you, but received no reply on the merits. That is why the situation is documented on this site. We remain ready to talk, and our request is a single one: install the sound insulation.
Ready to finally start a dialogue?
If you represent SIA Livonia Print and finally want to start a direct dialogue with the community, write to us at [email protected]. Tell us when you plan to install the sound insulation — so we can update this site to say that you are at least planning to carry out the fixes as soon as possible (ASAP).
✉ [email protected]Frequently asked questions
How personal data is handled on this site
This is a non-commercial residents' initiative. We process a minimal amount of personal data and are always willing to correct or delete it.