Laws and Regulations

In order to achieve the goal of an increasingly sustainable, responsible and conscious city, the law came to help. In Kaunas, regulations have come into force that are aimed precisely at respecting the environment and maintaining sustainability. For example, a waste recycling law has been passed and enacted, followed by legislation on corporate budgets to ensure that human activity does not overburden the environment. Achieving this goal requires the involvement of all citizens and businesses, working together for a more sustainable city.

First step – biofuel
As a first step, 6,000 tons of leaves and branches found in the city’s parks were converted into biofuel. This was enough to heat 45 houses and flats, saving the residents more than 600,000 euros. Introducing separate collection of organic waste was the next step. In fact, in order to learn how to separate it, special bins and guidelines were distributed in Kaunas, in order to divert organic waste from landfills. This approach further promotes a circular economy mindset, where even simple kitchen scraps find a new use.

Unless backed by collective commitment, regulations alone are not enough. In Kaunas, the success of new regulations depends heavily on the cooperation of citizens and businesses. Thanks to awareness-raising campaigns organized by the city council to explain how to sort food waste properly, separate collection of food waste is working effectively. At the same time, the transformation processes that turn green waste into biofuel are being managed by energy and environmental companies in cooperation with local authorities.

National legislation on waste management
National legislation on waste management and renewable energy production is driving Kaunas and Lithuania’s broader environmental efforts. Since last year, a law has been in effect that requires companies to produce a Sustainability Report, which clearly states how they are impacting the environment, society and governance, thus promoting transparency. At the same time, the Kaunas city authorities have issued specific regulations for the separation of food waste, with a dedicated collection system and penalties for noncompliance.

Moreover, managing green waste for heat production is among the practices endorsed by local regulations, which encourage such solutions through dedicated funds and partnerships with utilities in the energy sector.

However, despite numerous outcomes, some problems remain: firstly, more investments are needed in the equipment useful for the separate collection of organic waste, particularly in the peripheral areas of Kaunas; secondly, to enforce the rules, there must be greater control over the application of the law. Lastly, companies also struggle to comply with these sustainability regulations, and this is because they do not have precise skills regarding balance sheets. Nonetheless, the prospect of an increasingly integrated regulatory framework could nurture an ecosystem of environmental innovation, with new start-ups and partnerships between public and private players. Kaunas, in particular, may enhance its role as a testing ground, attracting investments and pilot projects.

The city demonstrates that laws and regulations can go beyond mere bureaucracy and become a catalyst for positive change if they are well-structured and coupled with awareness raising. Collaboration among local authorities, businesses, and citizens is crucial to turning legislation into tangible results. Maintaining this strong collaboration by constantly refining the orders is the main challenge. From biomass to separate waste collection and mandatory budgeting, Kaunas shows how environmental policies deliver tangible economic and sustainability benefits.