19 March this year. Kaunas RATC brought together waste management and environmental specialists from Kaunas region for an experience exchange and cooperation event – a working group meeting on the implementation of unified waste accounting in the region’s municipalities. Representatives of Kaunas City, Kaunas, Kaisiadorys, Kėdainiai and Raseiniai districts participated in the meeting together with Kaunas RATC team.

The event discussed possible scenarios for the implementation of a single waste accounting system and sought to find the most acceptable single accounting option for all parties. The meeting also presented relevant new waste management infrastructure solutions and the next steps in the development of the system.

The event started with a practical part at the bulky waste collection site in Kaunas, Chemijos g. 4E. Here, a system has been installed that allows the scales to accurately record the weight of incoming waste and to determine the overrun of the annual waste limit. Representatives of the municipalities were shown how residents are identified, how waste volumes are recorded and how fees are automatically calculated in case of exceeding the permitted limits. Waste site staff shared their daily challenges and practical experience with the system. Possible scenarios for the implementation of the system were further discussed and their feasibility was debated.

The meeting also presented the planned development of the waste management infrastructure: in the municipalities of Jonava, Raseiniai and Kaišiadorys districts, it is planned to set up transfer stations for separately collected food and kitchen waste, and to design storage points for green waste. These solutions will help to ensure efficient collection and further management of food and green waste.

The development of a unified accounting system and the expansion of infrastructure is helping to ensure even smoother management of waste streams across the region. This close cooperation between municipalities allows us to find common solutions that not only harmonise the quality of services, but also help us to work together towards a more environmentally sustainable future.

Information and images – Kaunas RATC.