V. Adamkus Nature Conservation Award – to A. Reip, the former director of Alytus RATC

This year, the presidential nature conservation award of the Valdas Adamkaus Library and the Dana Gedvilienė Foundation was awarded to the former director of the Alytus Region Waste Management Center, Algirdas Reip.

As indicated by the Vytautas the Great University, the prize is awarded to A. Reip for his merits and contribution to the creation and modernization of the waste management system in Lithuania, for the creation of an exemplary and modern waste management system in the Alytus region. 5 thousand will be awarded to the laureate. euros and a sculpture by sculptor Kęstutis Dovydaitis.

“I am extremely happy to have received the highest and most honorable award in the field of environmental protection. The prize and recognition of Valdas Adamkaus honored all the people with whom I had to work, dream and create a waste management system in Lithuania”, A. Reipas is quoted in the report.

A. Reipas is the former head of the first regional waste management center established in Lithuania and one of the pioneers of the nationwide regional waste management system.

Thanks to the efforts of the award winner and his colleagues, 71 landfills in the region were removed, 22 of which were illegal. About 100 illegal garbage dumps were also removed. Alytus region was the first in Lithuania to install modern waste sorting systems, and in 2018 – separate food waste collection system.

Also, thanks to the efforts of A. Reips, the system of reuse of objects “Mainukas” and the system of reuse of textiles “TikoTiks” were created in the region.

The award winner was chosen by a committee consisting of professionals representing different fields in their fields.

The prize of the Presidential Library and the Dana Gedvilienė Foundation is available from 2021. for achievements worthy of public attention and respect and efforts to protect and restore the natural environment in Lithuania and the neighborhood and to ensure the sustainability of resources.