VAATC Says Waste Management in Vilnius Region Has Stabilized

The waste management system in Lithuania’s Vilnius region is being stabilized as the Vilnius Regional Waste Management Centre, known as VAATC, clears waste piled up at the facility and works to restore its operations.

During its first month in charge, VAATC freed about 35% of the mechanical-biological treatment plant’s available space. Workers opened access routes to 12 of the 16 biowaste storage tunnels, which had been blocked not only inside the tunnels but also along the approaches leading to them.

The centre says several operations are now proceeding at the same time. Incoming waste is being accepted and sorted, previously accumulated waste is being removed, infrastructure is being repaired, and the condition of the equipment is being assessed. Between July 24 and August 24, the plant processed 23,600 tonnes of waste.

VAATC says the work is progressing quickly enough to allow reconstruction of the burned plant to begin in October. It also plans to bring an additional sorting line into operation, allowing the facility to process up to 500 tonnes of waste a day. Capacity will increase gradually while work continues across the site.

The Vilnius region produces about 700 tonnes of waste per day. A court ordered the former operator, Energesman, to transfer operation of the plant to VAATC at the end of July, and VAATC formally took control of the facility on August 9.