Spring clean-up campaign ‘Let’s Make Vilnius Green!’ (‘DAROM Vilnių žalią!’) on the 12th of April brought together around 600 participants, who together collected around 30,000 litres of waste. In the green city zone near LITEXPO, Vilnius residents collected rubbish, interacted and fostered community spirit—a festive atmosphere that lasted the whole day.

Pupils, students, young families—many young people who care about the cleanliness of their city—actively participated in the campaign. They were not only working, but also learning more about sustainability, waste sorting, and city ecosystems.

‘It is particularly gratifying that the DAROM clean-up initiative has brought together a large number of Vilnius residents to celebrate the year of Vilnius being named the European Green Capital 2025. This clearly shows the involvement of the public, a responsible attitude towards the environment and a common aspiration to create a cleaner, more sustainable city,’ says Jurga Pociūtė-Mikūtienė, Project Manager of the ‘Vilnius—the European Green Capital 2025’ project.

In just over two hours, the participants helped to clean up around 425,000 square metres of land, collecting a wide range of waste, including tyres, plastic and glass packaging, paper cups, textiles, and household rubbish.

During the event, naturalist Tomas Pocius gave an educational presentation on the ecological value of the site:

‘Urban green spaces are more than just recreational areas: they clean the air, reduce noise, shelter animals, and nurture our connection to nature. Even in early spring, we can see plants blooming and insects waking up in Vilnius parks. That is why I invite you not only to pick up rubbish during the campaign, but also to pay attention to what lies beneath our feet,’ said T. Pocius.

Participants could also try out the interactive educational task Waste Basketball and get acquainted with the activities carried out by the partners of the event: Toksika, EMP Recycling, and Ecoservice. They shared their experiences on waste management processes and the importance of sustainable lifestyles.

‘I’m delighted to see so many young people who care about their city. Initiatives like this not only foster environmental responsibility, but also solidarity and citizenship. These are the values that form a community,’ says Edvardas Baltuška, a representative of VšĮ Mes Darom.

This event is part of the spring cleaning wave that is sweeping across Lithuania. Campaigns like this show that communities are becoming more and more involved in creating a clean and sustainable environment.