STT again refuses to investigate Vilnius waste crisis

The Special Investigation Service has again refused to open a pre-trial investigation into the actions of Vilnius authorities over the region’s waste crisis, LRT reports, citing confirmation from the Prosecutor General’s Office to BNS.

After reviewing additional circumstances, the service decided not to investigate the Vilnius County Waste Management Centre’s decision to take over management of mixed waste in the region or the permits required for that work.

Prosecutor General’s Office spokeswoman Gintarė Vitkauskaitė-Šatkauskienė told BNS that complaints from Energesman, the former operator of the Vilnius waste-sorting plant, had been referred to the service. It has issued its decision, but has not yet sent it to the company. Energesman chief executive Algirdas Blazgys told BNS the company had not been informed of the renewed refusal.

Centre spokesman Germanas Kavalskis said the decision confirmed that the centre had acted lawfully and responsibly. He said regional residents’ money should be used only for services delivered properly and in full as agreed.

In August, Energesman asked prosecutors to investigate whether the centre and waste-sorting companies Ecoservice, Ekonovus and Ekobazė were handling waste without required integrated pollution prevention and control permits. The company also asked prosecutors to assess whether the mayor of Vilnius, the centre’s head and their staff had abused their positions or exceeded their authority, causing significant damage.

The service had previously refused to open an investigation. After Energesman appealed, the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office overturned that decision and ordered further clarification of the circumstances.

The centre announced on July 10 that it was terminating its contract with Energesman. The company later filed a claim seeking a ruling that the termination was unlawful. The case has not yet begun a substantive hearing. The centre has since reached agreements with Ecoservice, Ekonovus and Ekobazė to sort all of the region’s waste, while accumulated waste is being handled at the plant’s premises.

The waste crisis in the Vilnius region followed a fire at the waste-sorting plant last year. Its operations have not yet been restored.