Network of fuel stations operated by ORLEN Lietuva started offering the possibility of safe disposal of spent galvanic elements used in household appliances. In cooperation with the waste management company UAB Žalvaris, special containers have been placed in 24 shops of the fuel station network.

“We continuously pursue involvement in the environmental initiatives promoted in Lithuania. Special collection containers have been placed in the shops of ORLEN Lietuva fuel stations, as required by applicable laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Such arrangements are our pursuit of encouraging the national drivers to show the commitment and efforts towards greener environment, by disposing the spent batteries to the special waste collection containers only”, told Saulius Žilėnas, Deputy General Director and Commercial Director of Ventus-Nafta, operating ORLEN Lietuva fuel stations.

Positive evaluation of cooperation with Ventus-Nafta was also expressed by the waste management company UAB Žalvaris. “We hope that majority of our drivers will take this opportunity to safely dispose of the spent batteries. This initiative is our pursuit to enhance the waste sorting habits and reduce amounts of non-biodegradable waste in dumps and on the roadsides”, told Sigitas Ašmonas, Commercial Director of UAB Žalvaris.

As per him, the batteries contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxic elements being harmful to the environment and human health. If the batteries and accumulators used in household appliances are disposed to dumps together with the household waste, they emit the substances which may adversely change the chemical composition of soil, cause burns on plants and animal skin. Heavy metals from the environment may get into the plants used for food as well as water and further to the living organisms.

The growing consciousness of environmental issues and waste sorting habits is evidenced by increasing number of the spent galvanic elements collected: in 2008 this number reached almost 8 tons, while in 2009 it was nearly 21 tons.

Contribution to the initiatives of pollution reduction by the fuel stations network ORLEN Lietuva is also witnessed by its participation, for the second year already, in the environmental campaign “Environment-Friendly Filling Station”.

Fore more information:

Saulius Žilėnas, AB Ventus-Nafta, Deputy General Director, Commercial Director

Tel. (8 5) 254 6810; e-mail saulius.zilenas@orlenlietuva.lt

Additional information:

Portable batteries or accumulators are any batteries or accumulators which are usually used for domestic appliances. Portable batteries are single-cell batteries (AA and AAA type), button cells, multiple batteries and accumulators, used in mobile phones, laptops, cordless power tools, toys and household appliances, etc.

The list of fuel stations offering safe disposal of spent batteries: