Waste, Recycling and Upcycling

Recycling

The recycling of household waste is an essential part of making Kaunas a sustainable city. Recycling is necessary, as household waste contains valuable secondary raw materials that can be repurposed to make new goods. By recycling, we conserve natural resources and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. When each of us take responsibility for sorting our waste, we not only help protect the environment but also contribute to lowering waste management costs and reducing pollution.

VšĮ Kaunas Region Waste Management Center (Kauno RATC) was established in 2005 to create a coherent and sustainable waste management system in the Kaunas region. The primary waste management services ensuring proper waste collection and recycling throughout Lithuania are provided by Ecoservice and Ekonovus. For information on collection times and other services, it is recommended to download their apps or visit their provided websites.

A Guide to Recycling in Kaunas

UAB Kauno Švara is one of the leading waste management companies in Lithuania, with extensive experience in the field of environmental protection. It offers a variety of waste management services to Kaunas residents. According to their guidelines, here’s how to correctly recycle materials using the designated containers:

Recycling plastic and metal. These materials are recycled in yellow containers. This includes plastic bottles, polyethylene bags, milk and juice packaging, as well as steel or tin cans. Plastic packaging often has symbols like PET, HDPE, LDPE,PP, or PS. Product packaging has to be empty and clean before recycling. Failure to do so can lead to recycling contamination, meaning the container’s content can no longer be recycled.
Recycling glass. Glass items should be placed in green containers. This includes, glass bottles, jars, dishes, and broken glass. While glass jars and bottles must be empty, it is not necessary to remove paper labels. However, porcelain, crystal, or ceramic dishes must not be placed into this container.
Recycling paper and cardboard. These materials are recycled in blue containers. Acceptable items include magazines, newspapers, books without hardcovers, cardboard boxes, paper bags, envelopes, and other paper products. The paper must be clean and not damaged by food waste or liquids. Lime-coated, paraffin-coated, waxed, or oiled paper must not be put into this container.
Recycling municipal waste (household waste remaining after sorting recyclables). These materials are recycled in red containers. This includes packaging contaminated by food residue, pet litter, diapers, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, and other waste that cannot be sorted into other containers.
Recycling bulky and hazardous waste. Residents can bring and sort bulky and hazardous waste at designated collection sites. This includes large municipal waste (furniture, bicycles, other large household items), packaging waste, including secondary raw materials (paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal waste), electrical and electronic equipment waste, textile waste, used tires, household hazardous waste (batteries, accumulators, vehicle hazardous waste, household chemical waste, etc.), and construction and demolition waste.
Recycling textiles. Textiles can be delivered to the previously mentioned bulky waste collection sites previously mentioned or designated textile containers. This includes clean clothes, shoes, handbags, belts, curtains, bedding, and soft toys. Textiles should be clean and packed in bags.
Recycling food waste. In September 2024, Kaunas will introduce its first food collection containers, aimed at reducing the amount of municipal mixed waste. These containers will accept unused meat and fish leftovers, greasy paper towels or napkins, tea and coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, and indoor plants or their parts.

An alternative way for Kaunas residents to recycle household food waste is by composting biodegradable, plant-based food waste at home. Fruit, berries, vegetable residues, tea and coffee grounds can all be thrown into the compost.

Learning about proper recycling practices is crucial to preventing recycling contamination and ensuring we contribute to environmental protection. More information about recycling in Lithuania can be found on the website of Žaliasis Taškas, the first and largest licensed packaging waste management organization in Lithuania.

Sources (Recycling)

The Deposit System

The deposit system has been operating in Lithuania since 2016. During its first year of implementation, the collection rate of drinks containers reached 70% and succeeded to improve by 20% during the second year to reach a 90% collection rate in 2017. According to UNESDA, the most recent data shows a collection rate of 92%.

The non-profit organisation PI “Užstato Sistemos Administratorius” (USAD), established by Lithuanian beverage producers, importers and sellers, manages the system activities in the country. USAD successfully collects 9 out of 10 beverage cans, one-way glass and plastic bottles, marked with the deposit system mark that are placed on the market each year.

The deposit applies to one-way packaging made of glass, plastic (PET), and metal. Each eligible container carries a €0,10 deposit, which is then returned to the customer.

Thanks to the deposit system’s high success rate, Lithuania’s natural environment is significantly less polluted by discarded bottles. By encouraging residents to return their containers, the deposit system fosters a sense of personal responsibility, helping to reduce litter and protect our environment.

A Guide to Returning your Bottles

Can I return this bottle?
Yes, you can return the bottle if has a “D” symbol on the label, indicating that it is accepted in the deposit system.
However, if the bottle’s barcode is not clearly visible or it has lost its original shape – such as being folded or creased – the reserve vending machine (RVM) may not recognize the packaging, and you will not be able to recycle the bottle.
While not required, it is recommended to rinse out the bottle before returning it. This helps prevent liquid spillage and keeps the RVM and surrounding area cleaner for everyone.
Where can I return my bottles?
There are currently more than 1,600 manual collection points across Lithuania. Most RVM machines are located inside supermarkets. Click here for an interactive map of collection points all around Lithuania.
How can I use the money I receive for recycling through the deposit system?
After placing your bottles into the RVM machine, press the button to receive a receipt. You either cash out the money with a store worker or use it to pay for other goods inside the store.

Sources (Deposit System)

Reuse Initiatives in Kaunas

The three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. While reducing waste and recycling are essential for building a sustainable city, reusing existing products is equally important. Here are a few reuse initiatives in Kaunas that you should know about:

Ecoservice Textile Containers – Textile products are among the most challenging items to recycle due to their specificity and their diverse materials, making it crucial to extend their life cycle. For this reason, it is important to deposit textiles that are still in good condition into designated textile containers.
Residents should place their unwanted but still usable textiles into plastic bags and tie them securely so they do not get lost or soiled. It is essential to leave textiles in the designated containers, and not next to them to avoid issues like textiles melting or starting to mold.
You can find a map of Ecoservice textile container locations all around Lithuania here.

The Lithuanian Red Cross Textile Containers – In January 2024, The Lithuanian Red Cross (LRC), in cooperation with “Ecoservice” built textile sorting containers, inviting the public to drop off their unwanted clothing and pairs of shoes in these containers.
The collected textiles will be transported to a sorting center in Vilnius, where usable clothes and shoes will be separated and sold on the international wholesale market. A portion of the proceeds from these sales will support the LRC’s humanitarian efforts. Textiles that are no longer suitable for wear will be recycled and used to generate heat and electricity. In times of crisis, any usable textiles will be distributed by the Lithuanian Red Cross to those in need of clothing and footwear.
You can find a list of Lithuanian Red Cross textile container locations all around Lithuania here.

Textiles that can be put in Ecoservice & Lithuanian Red Cross textile containers:

Clothes (summer, winter, children’s)
Bedding
Footwear (only in pairs)
Handbags
Belts

Textiles that should not be put in Ecoservice & Lithuanian Red Cross textile containers:

Carpets
Dirty, torn clothes
Textile scraps

“Atiduotuvės” (“Giving Shop”)
“Atiduotuvės” refers to a place where items are given away for free, serving as a way to reduce waste and promote reuse.This initiative, launched by the Kaunas Region Waste Management Center (Kauno RATC) in 2019, aims to encourage the recycling and repurposing of household goods. The first “Atiduotuvės” drop-off points were established at bulky-waste collection sites in Kaunas.

People often donate a variety of items, including dishes, cutlery, books, children’s toys, furniture, household appliances, photo frames – essentially anything found in a typical home. This service is entirely free of charge, allowing anyone to donate clean, reusable items and, conversely, take anything they find useful, also at no cost.
Since its beginning, the initiative has expanded beyond bulky-waste drop-off areas.

“Atiduotuvės” has also taken root directly within Kaunas communities through “Atiduotuvės Kiemas” (“Giving Yard”), where community members can exchange items they no longer need for those they do.

Items accepted by “Atiduotuvės” drop-off points:

Bulky items (such as furniture)
Construction and repair materials
Books, magazines
Dishes, utensils
Toys
Home textiles (rugs, curtains, etc.)
Leisure inventory (bikes, tents, etc.)
Other household items suitable for use

Items not accepted by “Atiduotuvės” drop-off points:

Clothing and shoes
Electronic devices
Items dangerous to health and the environment

Click here for a list of “Atiduotuvės” drop-off point locations.