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New Online Tool Helps Lithuania Manage Hazardous Waste Safely
Lithuania generates around 163,000 tons of hazardous waste every year. If not handled properly, these wastes—such as old electronics, expired medicines, motor oil, paints, chemicals, and construction debris—can pollute soil, seep into groundwater, and harm public health.
To tackle this issue, a new online tool has been developed to help businesses, environmental agencies, and residents correctly identify, classify, and dispose of hazardous waste safely.
Lithuanian law requires that hazardous waste be properly identified to ensure safe handling and disposal. However, many businesses and individuals are unsure how to do this correctly.
“People often do not know which waste is hazardous or how to dispose of it safely,” says Sandra Remeikienė, Deputy Director of the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA). “This can lead to improper handling, which threatens both the environment and human health.”
A Smarter Way to Handle Hazardous Waste
To address this challenge, Lithuania’s Ministry of Environment launched the HAZ-IDENT project. The goal was to create a standardized, easy-to-use method for identifying and classifying hazardous waste.
“Proper identification of hazardous waste is essential for safe and efficient waste management, from collection to final disposal,” explains Aistė Rakauskienė, an advisor at the Ministry of Environment.
The project developed a national methodology to help government agencies, businesses, and individuals comply with Lithuanian and EU waste management regulations. These guidelines ensure that hazardous waste is classified correctly, collected safely, and disposed of properly. The methodology has been officially approved by the Minister of Environment to ensure a consistent approach across the country.
An Easy-to-Use Digital Solution
As part of the HAZ-IDENT project, an electronic tool was created to make hazardous waste identification quick and simple. Accessible via phone or computer, this tool allows users to check whether a particular waste item is hazardous and learn how to handle it safely.
“This tool is a major step forward in improving hazardous waste management in Lithuania,” says Rakauskienė. “We hope it will be widely used, helping people properly recognize and dispose of hazardous waste while protecting the environment and public health.”
The communication campaign marking the end of the 2014-2021 Norwegian Financial Mechanism Programme "Environment, Energy, Climate Change" was initiated by the CPVA. The aim of the campaign is to highlight the programme’s achievements in improving Lithuania's ecosystems and reducing the negative effects of pollution. The campaign is funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism.