The changed waste management rules also change the habits of Vilnius residents themselves - more and more often they refuse to pay for the waste left by the containers by their neighbors. Previously, waste left at the containers was managed from the general budget. Starting from the new year, the costs of managing this waste are distributed only to those houses whose waste was found in the container lots.
Over 500 cases of illegally left domestic bulky waste (BWW) are registered in the city every month. Facing the challenges of such waste management, the municipal company "Vilnius waste management system administrator" (SĮ "VASA") has recently noticed the increasing activity of the citizens. In a month, VASA receives between 400 and 600 reports from residents about bulky household waste being left or dumped near communal containers in the yards of apartment buildings.
According to the cases identified by VASA inspectors and reports from citizens, this year the company organized the removal of more than 1050 tons of illegally left household waste. It cost the municipality of the capital about 211 thousand. euros. The incurred costs will be distributed to all residents to whom the waste site is allocated. As a result, the waste management fee can increase to several tens of euros for the most disorganized citizens. However, Vilnius residents who manage waste correctly will not incur additional costs. "VASA" reminds residents about the possibilities of managing DGA and urges them to record and report violators.
According to Gintautas Mackonis, Head of the Waste Management Control Department at SĮ "VASA", the city's waste management culture depends not only on the operating system, the quality of services and its control, but also on the habits and awareness of waste owners. According to him, a two-fold trend has recently been observed in the capital: on the one hand, there is an increase in the illegal disposal of bulky household waste in residential areas, on the other hand, more and more reports are being received about such cases, and activities are being initiated to encourage proper handling and reduction of waste, and rational use of it. This means that there is an increasing number of active residents who not only do not accept the actions of unscrupulous and uncivilized people, but also promote an advanced approach to waste management and preservation of a clean environment in the city.
Fighting local "dumps"
According to the "VASA" representative, most large domestic waste is dumped in the western part of the city. "We regularly find local "dumps" in the yards of apartment buildings in some districts. We stick information stickers on containers, send educational publications about waste management, regularly check problem areas, respond to reports and organize the removal of illegally left waste. However, as soon as we clean up some local "landfill", soon, usually after nightfall, a new pile of waste sprouts up in the same place", says G. Mackonis. Old furniture, plumbing fixtures, used windows, doors, household or computer equipment, construction waste left after repairs, even slate sheets and worn tires, other bulky waste are usually thrown away by none other than the residents of apartment buildings, garages or garden communities in the same district . Such waste is arbitrarily loaded not only in common container sites, but also in common yards, on sidewalks, near building walls, under balconies, near tunnels, gazebos, playgrounds, and fences.
"VASA" employees, while going around and inspecting about 500 household waste collection sites every week, notice in some districts constant "sanitaries" of the courtyards of multi-apartment houses, who collect parts of discarded old furniture, metal remains, and various containers. "In-kind exchange" also takes place - some residents throw away things they no longer need, others pick them up and take them to their apartments", says G. Mackonis about the characteristics of local "dumps".
According to him, part of the population got used to the fact that regardless of where and when the waste is dumped, sooner or later it will be taken away, so why worry about handling it - transport it yourself or hire a carrier and pay for everything from your own pocket. "Apparently, such decisions are determined by the provision of a certain contingent - I will leave it without anyone seeing it, then the waste will no longer be mine, it is "nobody's", after all, someone will make sure that it does not remain", says G. Mackonis.
All residents pay for illegal waste disposal
According to the "VASA" representative, it is wrong to think that if you have paid for household waste management, then you can throw away everything that is no longer needed at home at the common use containers. The waste management rules indicate that residents must take care of the management of bulky household waste. On their own initiative and at their own expense, they must remove or order such waste to be delivered to special waste collection points. The household waste management fee does not include the cost of bulky household waste management - this is an additional service for which an additional fee is charged.
Bulky household waste is not transported using the same vehicles that are used to collect mixed household waste. VASA must organize their separate collection and removal. These services cost extra, this year alone, the cost of removing large household waste from common container sites already reaches 211460 euros.
According to G. Mackonis, it is obvious that there are still dishonest people who not only create a mess, but also pass on the costs of their waste management to other residents, maybe even to their neighbors, because the costs of handling illegally dumped household waste are distributed equally to the buildings assigned to the container yard. When calculating next year's waste management fee, it will also include the costs of bulky waste removed from common container sites based on the recorded weight of the removed waste. This is valid not only in Vilnius, but also in other Lithuanian cities.
The population's intolerance of offenders is increasing
According to the representative of "VASA", according to the reports reaching the company, it can be seen that residents are increasingly angry at the behavior of dishonest neighbors. Some dare to discipline the violators themselves, others write down or take pictures of the numbers of the cars from which the waste is unloaded, find out from which apartment the construction waste, old furniture, household appliances, etc. "went" after the repair. This information is received by "VASA" and Vilnius city municipalities Department of Public Order. Such reports are received this year several times more than last year.
"We are glad that there are more and more residents who do not tolerate disorder and dishonesty and who actively report the observed facts. This is a great help for us in order to identify the offenders, who are subject to fines and requirements to properly dispose of the waste left behind," says G. Mackonis. According to him, violation of waste management rules approved by municipal councils entails a fine from 30 to 140 euros. If the offense is committed repeatedly, the fine can be up to 600 euros (more information on waste management violations and applicable sanctions - "VASA" on the website).
DGA processing requirements and possibilities
The representative of "VASA" does not rule out the possibility that there may be such residents who do not yet know what the requirements and possibilities are for managing household DGA. He reminds that DGA and waste generated during simple residential repair works are accepted free of charge at five such waste collection points in the city of Vilnius. on the pitches (limits of waste collection weights, quantities and other conditions are given in "VAATC" on the website).
Residents of the capital can add DGA to the carrier by submitting an order to the company "VASA" for the provision of free individual service 1 time in 2 years (the order can be submitted by self-service on the website). Residents of Vilnius can report illegally dumped large waste at the containers intended for household waste to "VASA" on the website email by post [email protected] or tel. 1895, mobile 8 650 04 947.
"Vilnius residents can apply to our company for a paid individual waste collection service or choose a carrier themselves. It is important that the owner of the waste is sure that his waste will be taken and deposited in the designated places, and not in the wild or other unauthorized places", says G. Mackonis. Once violations are detected and the owner of the waste is identified, the owner must assume responsibility with all the consequences that follow. If you do not have evidence that the hired carrier has undertaken to properly dispose of the waste, you will have to pay the fine yourself, compensate for the damage to nature and dispose of the illegally dumped waste.
More information about processing DGA - "VASA" on the website
