Real estate development company Darnu Group, together with a team of Lithuanian hydrobiologists and divers, is starting garbage cleaning work in the Neris riverbed within the city limits of Vilnius this year. The river cleaning will cover the section from White bridge to the Lazdynai neighborhood. The first 8 kilometers are the beginning of a larger commitment: within a few years, the company plans to clean the entire riverbed of the capital, covering about 24 kilometers.
Back in 2023, the first comprehensive study of the Neris River within the city limits of Vilnius by the “Sustainable Initiatives Support Fund” established by “Darnu Group” revealed that the overall condition of the river is good. At that time, many species included in the Lithuanian Red Book were found in the Neris, as well as organisms that had not been detected in the country for decades. Slightly worse water quality was recorded in the central and industrial areas of the river. According to Akvilė Liaudanskienė, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Director of “Darnu Group”, this comprehensive study allowed not only to better understand the largest river in the capital, but also to identify factors necessary for its preservation and improvement.
"Having assessed the conclusions presented by specialists, we undertake to contribute to improving the condition of the Neris River not only by actively educating the public, but also by taking specific actions. This year, with the help of experienced partners, we will clean an approximately 8-kilometer section, and in the long term, the entire, approximately 24-kilometer riverbed in Vilnius. The initiative arose not only from our responsibility for the environment, but also from the natural connection with the city's rivers - we are developing several real estate projects in their vicinity. In order to balance the needs of modern man and nature, we feel the need to take care of the main water bodies of the capital," says A. Liaudanskienė.
According to Kęstutis Skrupskelis, a member of the Lithuanian Hydrobiological Society and a consultant for river initiatives at Darnu Group, who contributes to the research and cleaning of Vilnius rivers, the first stage of the Neris cleaning works will involve cleaning up almost half a million square meters. The length of the river section will be about 8 km, and the average width along the section will be about 80 meters.
You can find both an old refrigerator and an orange bicycle in the Neri River.
Over the years, the Neris River has accumulated a lot of human-made garbage, which still has a negative impact on the environment. K. Skrupskelis believes that most of us would be surprised to learn what "treasures" are hidden in the waters of urban rivers.
"It's unbelievable, but even in the 21st century, some people still throw garbage or unnecessary household items into the water. Every winter, when the rivers clear up, I like to wade through them within the city limits, so I can see very well what undesirable "treasures" the water hides. Here you can find not only plastic or glass bottles, but also a refrigerator that someone no longer needs, an orange bicycle or an electric scooter. Naturally, the concentration of such anthropogenic garbage is usually highest in the most densely populated areas - within or slightly below city limits. Of course, we will be able to present real conclusions about the Neris riverbed in Vilnius only after the river cleaning works," says K. Skrupskelis.
That is why it was decided to first localize the largest garbage accumulation areas in the Neris River.
One of the team's most important tasks is to remove anthropogenic waste from natural habitats, which has entered the river ecosystem through humans. Not only bottles, old bicycles or scrap metal will be removed from the Neris, but also hazardous waste - oil containers, electrical appliances with lithium batteries and other toxic materials.
During river cleaning, small-sized garbage will be placed in bags, while larger ones will be loaded into a water vehicle accompanying the divers. A team of 5 experienced divers will descend the riverbed downstream, dividing it into narrow sections 2–3 m wide. In shallow shores, divers will work using surface diving equipment, while in deeper areas, cleaning operations will involve not only compressed air cylinders, but also additional lighting, which is necessary in low-transparency water.
The first year of the river cleanup will be dedicated not only to consistent work, but also to assessing the extent of pollution. The data collected will later allow for a more accurate prediction of how long it will take to clean up the entire 24-kilometer section of the river and what resources will be needed.
The goal is to attract public attention.
Having previously studied and initiated the cleaning of another section of the city's river, the Vilnelė, Darnu Group aims not only to beautify the capital and its territories, but also to draw public attention to the invisible, but very relevant ecological problem of rivers.
One of the priorities of Darnu Group and the team that will carry out the clean-up work is to create conditions for the natural restoration of habitats that are vital for the local flora and fauna of the rivers. By removing pollutants, waste and other human waste, water quality improves, the natural flow of the river is restored, and the banks become attractive to city dwellers. This not only allows fish, amphibians, birds and insects to return, but also encourages the growth of their populations. For these reasons, it is particularly important to carry out the river clean-up work while preserving sensitive areas and avoiding disturbance during the breeding season. Further monitoring of the ecosystem is planned after the clean-up stages to ensure the long-term impact of the habitat restoration.
It is planned that all garbage collected during the project will be sorted and hazardous, toxic, or rapidly airborne substances will be removed.
