In the first half of this year, Lithuanian residents returned over 336 million. of beverage deposit packages - exactly half of the record number achieved last year. VšĮ "Užstato systemos administratorius" (USAD) also notices that when summer comes, people contribute more and more actively to the initiative "Change containers to straws" - they donate deposits in order to preserve more old-growth forests in Lithuania.
According to the head of USAD, Gintaras Varnas, the six-month data show that residents use the deposit system no less actively than last year, when the year's record was reached. USAD statistics show that over 672 million were returned last year. packaging units, and within half a year this year - already more than 336 million.
"In the summer, soft drinks and other drinks are sold the most, so it is very important that all deposit packages return to manufacturers and importers as a valuable, recyclable, raw material." In the middle of the summer, the results of the return of containers are positive, because on average one inhabitant of the country has already returned about 120 packages this year", says G. Varnas.
Part of the deposit turned into a preserved forest
At the same time, the "Change the packaging to garbage" initiative is successfully underway: G. Varnas predicts that a symbolic million donated packages will be reached in the summer. Thus, the funds collected from the start of the initiative will be equal to 100 thousand. square meters of preserved forest, where rare species of plants and animals can live, such as lynx, black storks or wolverines.
With part of the donated funds, two forest areas in Druskininkai Municipality, adjacent to Raigard Valley, have already been purchased this year - a total of about 6 hectares, which have been connected to a larger massif, protected from human intervention, thanks to the efforts of the "Sengirė Foundation".
Returned packaging ensures a cleaner environment and saved resources
In the first half of this year, according to USAD, residents returned the most empty PET plastic packages - as many as 174,4 million, aluminum cans returned - almost 140 million, and glass bottles - over 21,3 million. units, steel cans - almost 612 thousand. The total number of deposit packages returned during January-June 2024 is 11 million. units higher compared to the same period in 2023.
According to G. Varnas, the half-year results show that the wide network of taromats in Lithuania helps thousands of tons of packaging waste go smoothly to processors. Empty PET plastic, aluminum, steel and glass packaging are valuable secondary raw materials, recycling them into new items and saving resources compared to production from primary raw materials.
Three big cities - almost 140 million. packaging
There is a tendency that the largest amounts of deposit packages are collected in the country's major cities and their surroundings. More than 75,3 million was collected in the city of Vilnius in half a year, Beautiful - 43 million, in the city of Klaipėda - 21 million. packaging.
in Vilnius district 9,4 million people arrived at the collection points. packages, in Kaunas district - 7,6 million, in Klaipėda district - 6,6 million. Residents in Šiauliai returned 13 million, in Panevėžys - almost 12 million. deposit packages.
The country's lake areas and seaside, which attract many holidaymakers, also contribute significantly to the protection of nature from beverage packaging waste. Over 4,8 million were returned in Utena and its surroundings in half a year. packaging, in the districts of Zarasai and Ignalina - almost 1,6 million each, in the district of Molėtai - 2,2 million, in Trakai - 3,2 million, and in the collection points of containers in Palanga - more than 3 million. beverage packaging.
