Some residents dump garden waste in Salininkai meadows and woods

Some residents of Salininkai are dumping green waste in meadows and woods, where it has accumulated in large piles, LRT reports. An environmental authority says the waste must be disposed of properly and that violations can bring penalties.

Ieva, who lives in the neighborhood, told LRT that people leave grass cuttings, fallen leaves and uprooted flowers in public spaces near Dusinėnų and Strumilos streets. Photographs taken by an LRT photographer also show dumped apples.

“Over the years, there have been piles of rubbish there. People dump not only grass, but also leaves and flowers with the soil still attached,” Ieva said. She said some neighbors dismissed her complaints and mocked her, arguing that the green waste would simply decompose.

She added that the waste has covered paths used by people walking with children and dogs. Ieva said she had repeatedly asked neighbors to stop dumping waste beyond their property boundaries, but the conversations had made no difference. She noted that each home had been given a food-waste container and said grass placed in it was also collected.

The Environmental Protection Department said green waste, including grass cuttings, fallen leaves, faded flowers and pruned branches, must not be dumped in meadows, at forest edges or in other places not designated for waste. It recommends composting the waste, taking it to a green-waste collection site or using containers intended for it.

The department said that waste being biodegradable does not mean it can be left wherever people choose. It also cautioned that composting may not be suitable in every case, such as when it could spread plant pests, and advised against composting weeds with mature seeds. The department did not assess the potential environmental impact of the waste around Dusinėnų and Strumilos streets, saying that the facts would first need to be established.