The fire at the waste treatment site in Vilnius has been extinguished: environmentalists continue their work

The officials of the Department of Environmental Protection promptly went to the scene, the laboratory of the Environmental Protection Agency was called to take air and water samples, and air pollution propagation simulations were carried out. During the fire, the Environmental Protection Agency carried out air pollution measurements at 3 locations downwind of the fire source, with portable devices measuring very high half-hour concentrations of the volatile organic compound benzene, which ranged from 68 to 941 µg/m³ (annual limit value of 5 µg/m³). The first results of the sewage tests will be received today, the other tests will be carried out by the end of next week.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, on March 28, at 1 a.m. night, concentration of solid particles (KD10) Savanorių pr. at the air quality research station, which is closest to the fire, it was still equal to 297 µg/m³, and 2-4 h. nighttime particulate matter concentrations have already dropped to safe levels of 8-40 µg/m³. At the moment, in other environmental air quality research stations in Vilnius (Lazdynai, Senamiesti and Žirmūnai micro-districts), the concentration of ambient air pollutants is low or average, that is, they do not exceed the limit values.

Officials from the Department of Environmental Protection plugged a well in the sewage system to prevent water generated during firefighting from entering the city’s sewage system.

This morning, after the fire has been extinguished, department officials can access the burned waste, will assess the burned quantities, and an unscheduled inspection of the company has begun. Environmentalists will assess the damage to the environment.

The Department of Environmental Protection assesses the environmental risk of Ruvis UAB, Panerių st. 56 places of activity are not classified as high risk objects.

The company operates with a pollution permit, which allows for both hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and no complaints have been received regarding the company’s activities. The main activity of the company is the purchase, processing and export of ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap. A pollution permit has been issued for the storage of ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap waste, thermal process waste, catalysts, non-hazardous battery and accumulator waste, plastic, textile, paper and cardboard waste, packaging waste, non-hazardous electrical and electronic equipment and construction waste, and the preparation for use or disposal of this waste . The company has the right to process ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap waste. According to the permit, the amount of non-hazardous waste – 3124.805 t and hazardous (battery and accumulator waste) – 9 t is allowed to be stored in the territory at the same time.

UAB “Ruvis”, as a company handling hazardous waste, must have civil liability insurance.