Danish - Lithuanian Environmental Co-operation 1991-2000
Chapter 7
Improving the management of waste
Projects described:
Waste management in Kaunas
Nearly all domestic waste in Lithuania, about 98 per cent, is landfilled.This causes environmental problems. Nevertheless, considerable achievements with continuos Danish support have been reached. This means that some of the new waste constructions already complies with the EU requirements for waste management. The DANCEE support in relation to waste management has a project portfolio of 20 projects and a total Danish grant support of DKK 42 million (EUR 5.65 million).
In 1999 about 6.234 million tons of nonhazardous waste were generated in Lithuania. 98 per cent of all the domestic waste is landfilled. Even though that most of the about 800 landfills in Lithuania are poorly designed, some new constructions already comply with the EU requirements.
Also in 1999 105.600 tons of hazardous waste were generated. This causes problems because the existing treatment facilities can handle only a small part of the waste. The rest is stored on enterprises' own sites. According to the planned treatment system there are three groups of hazardous waste which can be handled in following ways: incineration, physical and chemical treatment, and disposal.
Projects related to hazardous waste problemsand management are a part of the Danish Lithuanian project portfolio, and cover such activities as: "Action plan for unused pesticides", "Intermediary hazardous waste storage facility in Klaipeda", and "Training activities for hazardous waste management".
In total the DANCEE support in relation to waste management (1991-2000) has a project portfolio of 20 projects and a total Danish grant support of DKK 42 million (EUR 5.65 million).
One of the targets of the agricultural sector programme is the use and control of pesticides.
Danish support to solid waste management
A demonstration project on solid waste management in Kaunas (which has some 470.000 inhabitants) was launched already in 1992, and the co-operation with the environmental authorities in Kaunas regarding the project has been continuously elaborated.
Also the DANCEE programme has supported projects in other cities of Lithuania as well as in the capital Vilnius, where DANCEE support has been provided for a risk assessment and feasibility study for utilisation of landfillgas.
Waste management compatible with the EU requirements
In the waste sector DANCEE has been very much involved in the Lithuanian effort to transpose its legislation and to comply with the regulatory framework for the waste sector set up by the European Union.
The transposition of Lithuanian legislation in relation and regulation of solid waste management was launched with DANCEE support in 1997. The Waste- and IPPC approximation project has assisted Lithuania to develop legislation and regulations compatible with the EU requirement as well as the establishment of Strategy plans for the future network of landfills and municipal waste recycling strategy.
The leachate from the landfill at Kaunas is collected and treated as part of the DANCEE project at "Lapes landfill".
The transposition effort led to a thorough revision of the Lithuanian Waste Management Law. Hence in recent years the DANCEE support in relation to the waste sector has to some extend been focused on the implementation of the new Lithuanian waste legislation.
Among these projects is a project that has established guidelines for the establishment of county and municipal waste management plans as called upon in the law and another technical assistance project, which clarifies the possibilities for inter-municipal cooperation.
As mentioned above the DANCEE has supported the elaboration of a Lithuanian environmental investment strategy. This study also covers the waste sector and its investment requirements in order to reach EU-standards in the Lithuanian waste area.
Future perspective
The waste sector is given high priority in the DANCEE country programme for Lithuania.
As mentioned above Lithuania's effort to transpose and implement EU-legislation has not been completed. In relation to investments needed for the implementation of EUstandard main bottlenecks exists in relation to project preparation and the project implementation capacity.
Hence, the focus of DANCEE assistance will be:
 | Technical assistance to national strategy development for solid and hazardous waste management |
| Institutional strengthening (primarily projects targeted at local governments and waste companies) |
| Investment preparation (feasibility studies and financial schemes preparation) |
| Investment support |
| Follow up activities on previous projects supported by DANCEE |
Waste management in Kaunas
In Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city, one of DANCEE's oldest projects is still being implemented. Waste management in Kaunas has an important demonstration effect, as the project has given the city a powerful boost towards living up to EU standards. EU membership has high political priority in Lithuania and it is one of the country's highest priorities for the future.
Thirteen kilometres outside Kaunas in Lithuania lies a landfill that often has the honour of visits from politicians, administrators, students, and journalists.
This landfill which serves Lithuania's second largest city, is one of the first in the Baltic States that is on its way towards meeting the requirements imposed by the EU on potential member states.
The objective
Waste management in Kaunas has an important demonstration effect, as the project has given the city a powerful boost towards living up to EU standards. The landfill is also one of the most highly praised projects according to reviews of Danish initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe. This is partly because of a relatively long period and with sustained, well motivated help from the local authorities and partners responsible.
The procedure
DANCEE and Kaunas' authorities entered their alliance back in 1992 and are still cooperating during the fourth phase of the project.
The Kaunas waste management project has received about DKK 13.5 million (EUR 18.2 million) in Danish assistance. The total project cost was more than DKK 21 million (EUR 2.82 million) with co-funding from the Lithuanian authorities and other donors such as the Finnish Ministry of Environment.
Kaunas Municipality and the local waste disposal company introduced the first pilot trials with fractionating and recycling of refuse.
The waste disposal company rationalised the collection and transport of waste from Kaunas' 430,000 inhabitants, and the landfill was enlarged in line with modern principles to encourage the continued improvement of waste management.
For controlling leachates, Kaunas' landfill, as well as the other most modern landfills, is lined with a plastic membrane so that this liquid can be collected and treated. The project included covering and closing down part of the landfill site which reduced the amount of leachate by no less than 80 per cent. Meanwhile, a drainage system was laid in the part that was still to be used so that leachates could be collected and treated. Modern plastic membranes were also laid in new sections of the site.
An active sludge plant that removes 99.5 per cent of the organic components present in leachates was then built.
Lastly, Kaunas Municipality and the waste disposal company established a recycling station, which has increased the site's scope for recycling glass, paper, green waste, and building refuse.
The environmental result
Generally, waste disposal at landfills causes soil and groundwater pollution due to leaching of heavy metals, chloride, and nutrient compounds. The biological degradation of organic waste also creates two greenhouse gases, methane and CO2.
The environmental benefits of upgrading Lithuania's landfills comprise a reduction of leaching from landfills into the groundwater and a reduction of emissions of methane gas into the atmosphere. Better treatment of leachate will also reduce emissions of organic nutrients that cause euthrophication and oxygen depletion in rivers, lakes, and in the Baltic Sea.
The project has a demonstration effect and the dissemination of methods and results of waste management in Kaunas has been conducted through co-operation with the engineering faculties at the universities in Kaunas and Vilnius. Throughout the project, seminars that have been attended by representatives from large municipalities in Lithuania and the other Baltic States have been held.
