Kaunas RATC together with representatives of Kaunas region municipalities visited waste management facilities in London – Padworth West Berkshire Waste Management Facility and Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility centres.

The visit provided an overview of the different types of centres and their operating principles. The Padworth West Berkshire centre highlights the arrangements for accepting residents’ waste and the clear segregation solutions that allow for efficient management of household waste. The facility acts as a site for the collection of residents’ waste and the sorting of packaging, focusing on day-to-day needs and consistent flow control.

The Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility, on the other hand, presents a different scale and structure, with modern material sorting technology, automated packaging screening lines, mechanical-biological treatment process components and integrated waste stream management. The centre clearly demonstrates how the technologies have been integrated into a seamless system that maximises the recovery of recyclable materials and reduces the amount of waste going to landfill.

Discussions with experts covered logistics, technology deployment and process management.

Such visits provide an opportunity to assess how different countries organise their waste management processes, which solutions work well in practice and where it would be useful to strengthen activities in our region. Practical insights help to see more clearly possible technological improvements, plan process improvements and move towards higher environmental standards in Kaunas region.

The experience gained provides a valuable basis for further decisions and process improvements.

Information and photos from Kaunas Regional Waste Management Centre.