This spring, when operations at our managed plant were temporarily suspended, waste flows were redistributed. This gave us a real-life test of our waste system’s crisis resilience and revealed what needs to be strengthened.
“It’s clear that right now we have a unique opportunity to create new, modern MBT facilities that would ensure more efficient sorting – it would be a shame not to use this opportunity. State support is crucial, as it will create value for the entire waste management system,” said Algirdas Blazgys, our company’s CEO, at the 22nd Druskininkai Forum “Waste Management 2025”.
It is also important to prepare for future crises – it’s only a matter of time before they happen again. To be ready, we need:
- A national emergency MBT capacity reserve equipped with modular lines, screens, presses, and other mobile units.
- Pre-agreed interregional arrangements for alternative (“detour”) routes and gate fees in case of stress situations.
Data from this spring and summer show that if we are not prepared, we will again face situations where:
- Only partially sorted waste is sent for incineration – out of 10,310 tons received, 9,310 tons were burned.
- Industrial SRF demand cannot be met – this summer, production was reduced tenfold.
- A portion of waste remains untreated – around 18,500 tons were landfilled, left at waste operators’ sites, or otherwise unmanaged.
Thank you for the discussions – it was a pleasure to meet and talk about current market issues. Only through dialogue can we find the solutions our waste management system urgently needs.
Photos from the forum.
