Although households are by far the biggest producers of food waste, till 1 January 2024 the residents and visitors of Vilnius Cty could only sort plastic, paper, metal, glass or bulky waste. This year, a new waste sorting system was launched in the capital.

How does the new food waste collection system work?

Be sure to put your unwrapped organic food and kitchen waste – peels, parings, fractures, tea and coffee grounds, tea bags, house plants and their parts, paper towels, napkins, etc. – in an orange bag that is made of at least 90% recycled materials. The filled bag should be put in the mixed municipal waste container. The mixed municipal waste collected there, together with the orange bags, goes to the Vilnius mechanical-biological treatment facilities. These facilities use special technology that can identify the orange bags and separate them from the rest of the waste stream. Finally, the food waste is made into a liquid compostable mass (pulp), which is suitable for feeding the larvae and producing proteins and biogas. This ensures the development of a circular economy in the city.

Where to get orange bags and buckets?

You can pick up your food waste sorting means at Vilnius City Administration building, offices of the Districts or Vilnius bulky waste collection sites, as well as at the parking lots of large supermarkets. For a map showing the exact locations, visit the website at www.atliekuetiketas.lt. Don’t forget to help your relatives, neighbours or friends who are not able to pick up the items by themselves.

Why should we sort food waste?

Sorting food and kitchen waste is important not only for environmental reasons but also for economic and social reasons. Separately collected food and kitchen waste is landfill-free and can be turned into natural fertiliser, biogas or compost. Sorting food does not contaminate other mixed municipal waste, which increases recycling opportunities. Finally, by sorting food and kitchen waste separately, we reduce food waste.

Sorting food waste is one of the simplest and most effective ways to promote the circular economy, reduce food waste and contribute to a greener capital.