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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 |

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.

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