Plastic-free municipal events
Vilnius
In March 2020, the city of Vilnius adopted a municipal ban on single-use plastic catering products (such as cups and tableware) for all municipal public events, as well as the requirement to provide separate collection containers. Another Lithuanian city, Joniškis, was actually the first city to successfully take that step in 2019, which inspired other cities like Vilnius, Trakai and Panevėžys to take up the challenge.
All event organisers and civil society organisations were informed ahead of the decision and were given over two months to prepare for alternatives. Companies and start-ups who could provide the reusable cups, plates, and other eventware that were critical to the success of the ban, were identified.
This decision is the first important step to helping reduce the amount of plastic waste generated in the city, while also encouraging citizens to be more aware of the impact that plastic, especially single-use items, has on our environment and on the climate.
The Vilnius’s ban is yet to be implemented, but authorities expect the amount of plastic pollution within the city to be significantly reduced.
