Environmental protection department issues recommendations for waste management at Kazokiškės landfill

The Environmental Protection Department (AAD) has issued recommendations for managing waste at the Kazokiškės landfill in Elektrėnai municipality, following the declaration of an emergency due to pollution levels, LRT reports.

The department advises implementing additional measures to control pollution and odours, as well as limiting the disposal of municipal waste at the site to only what is necessary. The goal is to reduce environmental risks and ensure compliance with a March 12 directive from the Vilnius Regional Waste Management Centre (VAATC) to eliminate excess hydrogen sulphide pollution.

According to the AAD, larger quantities of biodegradable waste at the landfill increase the likelihood of leachate, pollutant, and odour formation. To mitigate this, the department recommends restricting additional landfill loading and enhancing odour and pollution control measures.

The recommendations aim to minimise the landfill’s environmental impact and ensure proper waste management.

Earlier, VAATC announced it had terminated its contract with Energesman for the operation of mechanical-biological treatment (MBA) equipment, citing operational disruptions, unmanaged waste volumes, and failures to meet environmental and fire safety requirements.

On March 24, Elektrėnai municipality declared a state of emergency due to pollution at the landfill, which remains in effect. Authorities later decided to cover 14,000 tonnes of semi-burnt waste at the site, a remnant of fire cleanup efforts at Energesman’s waste processing plant.

In mid-June, VAATC reported ongoing long-term measures to reduce odours and emissions, including covering about 70% of the landfill’s eastern slope with a biological layer to neutralise odours. The company estimated this could reduce odour-causing gas emissions by 70–90%. Work on the slope was expected to finish by June 30, with gas collection system expansion by the end of July and leachate treatment modernisation by November.