Fires at waste management facilities becoming routine in Lithuania

Fires at waste processing plants in Lithuania are occurring with increasing frequency, with lithium-ion batteries in unsorted waste identified as a primary cause, according to environmental experts.

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) environmental technology professor Violeta Kaunelienė told LRT.lt that while such incidents are common across Europe, Lithuania’s waste streams are becoming more complex and hazardous, heightening fire risks. “Waste now contains more flammable materials, electronics, and chemical components, which directly increases the likelihood of fires,” she said.

A recent blaze at the Žalvaris waste management facility in Kaunas required a major firefighting response, while another fire was reported Monday at a landfill in Panevėžys district. Kaunelienė noted that mixed municipal waste sorting centres frequently see fires triggered by damaged or short-circuited lithium-ion batteries. However, hazardous waste facilities like Žalvaris—which handle flammable, reactive, or chemically unstable materials such as solvents, oils, paints, and electronic waste—face even greater risks due to inadequate storage controls and outdated infrastructure.

“Repeated incidents, including multiple fires at Žalvaris and at mechanical-biological treatment plants, show that current measures are insufficient,” she said. “Stronger prevention, advanced fire detection systems, stricter storage oversight, and continuous infrastructure investment are urgently needed.”

Kaunelienė also stressed the role of public participation in safer waste handling, urging proper separation of batteries, electronics, and hazardous household waste to prevent contamination of mixed waste streams. “The biggest challenge is adapting waste management systems to rapidly changing consumption patterns, where preventive measures often lag behind growing risks,” she added.

Lithuania’s Environmental Protection Department (AAD) reported receiving hundreds of public complaints annually about waste facilities, particularly when environmental threats arise. Last year, inspectors recorded 216 violations related to improper waste accumulation or accounting, 186 for collection/transport/processing breaches, and 91 for incorrect sorting. While waste processing itself does not cause fires, non-compliance with safety regulations—such as those tightened 1.5 years ago—exacerbates hazards, the agency noted.