If you have a pile of things in your house that you no longer use, don’t be in a hurry to throw them away. They could still be valuable, useful or just lovely to someone else. Sharing gives things a second life and gives you the opportunity not only to make others happy, but also to discover something unexpected and meaningful for yourself. Kaunas Regional Waste Management Centre (hereafter referred to as Kaunas RWMC) invites you to experience this in the “Atiduotuvių dvůr” – a sharing space, where various items find new owners, and where people find fellowship, moments of small discoveries, and a simple way to contribute to a more sustainable everyday life.
13 Atiduotuviųkiems eventsthis season
“Atiduotuvių kiemas” is a travelling initiative of Kaunas RATC, which visits various festivals in Kaunas region during the warm season. In this exchange and sharing space, anyone can bring items that are still usable or take something that will be useful in their daily life for free. There are all sorts of items: toys, crockery, books, various household trinkets and souvenirs – both exquisite retro “gems” and brand-new, never-before-used items.
Laurynas Virbickas, Director of Kaunas RATC, stresses that this initiative is important not only because of its ecological benefits, but also because of its impact on the values of society: “Participation in the “Yard of Giving Away” is not only an exchange of items, but also a choice of values. Such initiatives help to foster a conscious society that cares not only for its own well-being, but also for the well-being of those around it and for the environment.”
In May, “Atidutuvių kiemas” has already visited Kaišiadoris, Raseiniai, Jonava and Kaunas, while the next stops this year are planned for the community festivals in Kačerginė, Kėdainiai, Žiežmariai, Palomene, Domeikavaitė, Lapės, Babtus, and the initiative will return to Raseiniai and Kaunas in September.
The 2025 calendar for the “Courtyard of the Shops”:
Permanent “Giveaway Shops” are also open
Where do all these things come from, you ask? Živilė Valaitytė, Public Relations and Education Specialist at Kaunas RATC, says that after attending the same festivities for several years now, it is noticeable that the residents are increasingly recognising the “Atiduotuvių kiemas” (Yard of Gifts) and are getting actively involved – they are bringing their own things, sharing, communicating, and enjoying the initiative. However, most of the items are collected from the continuously operating “Returns Yard” located in part of the Kaunas RATC bulky waste collection sites. These sites are open to residents all year round, so it is possible to share second-hand but still perfectly usable items at any time.
“Just as Vilnius has Dėk’ui, Alytus has Mainukas and Šiauliai has Daiktų kiemas, Kaunas invites people to share through Atiduotuves. Similar initiatives exist in other regional waste management centres, each with its own name but a common goal: to promote reuse, reduce waste and promote responsible consumption.” – Ž. Valaitytė.
Behavioural culture in Atiduamuni: respect, moderation and community
Although the principle of sharing seems simple, it is sometimes challenging, with some visitors deliberately abusing the opportunity to take more items than allowed by the rules. Vygantas Miliūnas, parking lot engineer at Kaunas RATC, points out that “we do not make reservations for items at Atiduotuvė, and residents can arrive at any time during the opening hours of the parking lots, but one person is allowed to take a maximum of three items at any one time.”
This ensures that as many people as possible benefit from the initiative. At the same time, it is important to know that there is no limit to the number of items that can be delivered – anyone who wants to share can bring as many items as they think is appropriate, as long as they are clean, tidy, functional, complete and reusable.
“Playground staff who see cases of abuse – especially when the same people keep coming back to take more – have to react and remind people that sharing must be based on respect, moderation and community, not greed or personal gain. “This initiative is based on trust in people, so everyone’s conscious and honest behaviour is essential for the culture of sharing to grow and survive.” – emphasises V. Miliūnas.
What to know before coming to Atiduotuves?
If you are going to visit Atiduotuves – whether during events in Kaunas region or at the permanent sites – it is worth taking a quick look at what is on offer here. The first thing Kaunas RATC representatives emphasise is that the items should be clean, tidy, working, functional and safe to use – items that you would be comfortable using yourself or recommending to a loved one. This includes toys, books, crockery, decorative items, accessories, leisure equipment and other household goods and tools. The “Take Back Shops” in the squares also accept bulky items such as chairs, tables, cabinets, armchairs, and leftover building and repair materials such as tiles, wallpaper, boards, etc. Anything that is dirty, broken or potentially dangerous is not suitable. For this reason, electrical appliances, items dangerous to health or the environment are not accepted at the exchange points, and clothing and footwear are also not accepted here due to inadequate storage conditions.
Properly prepared items are just the start. The real joy of sharing comes when the Yard of Giving arrives at a community festival and becomes a lively meeting point. Not only can you find things here, but you can also talk to the Kaunas RATC team, learn more about responsible waste management, and for the little ones, you can immerse yourself in a play adventure with outdoor games made from recycled materials or the board game “Ekomonstiukai”.
“When we share, we don’t just reduce waste – we raise awareness that sustainable living starts with us. Come to Atiduotuvių kiemas – you might come away with a new idea for living more simply.” – invites Laurynas Virbickas, Director of Kaunas RATC.
