“In autumn, we will start collecting food and kitchen waste throughout the city of Kaunas. The containers near the apartment buildings are already adapted to collect them. This is a serious step towards a more sustainable, cleaner and greener future”, said Tadas Metelionis, director of Kaunas City Municipality Administration.
“Although food waste does not constitute large quantities, when it is thrown out together with other waste, it pollutes it heavily and deteriorates the quality of sorted paper, plastics and other waste. Together with other waste, discarded food releases harmful gases into the environment, promoting the greenhouse effect. Only by sorting correctly can we make a significant contribution to preserving our environment,” he added.
According to him, almost 800 semi-underground and 1,400 specialized 240-liter above-ground containers will be used in the city of Kaunas by autumn. The integrated biofilter in their cover will ensure the prevention of odors.
Kaunas residents will be able to throw unused meat and fish leftovers, greasy paper towels or napkins, tea and coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, indoor plants or their parts into the food waste containers.
Once kitchen waste is separated from the general mixed municipal waste stream, it will be properly recycled. Separately collected food and kitchen waste will be converted into valuable compost or biogas. It is estimated that around 40 kg of kitchen waste can be collected from one resident per year.
The municipality of Kaunas reminds that residents of individual houses can compost food and kitchen waste in their own homes – this is an ecological and economical way of managing biodegradable, plant-based food and kitchen waste. Fruit, berries, vegetable residues, tea and coffee grounds can be thrown here. Owners of private estates will have the opportunity to order a special container for the collection of this waste in the future.
