“I started sorting relatively recently – five years ago. It especially helped to start when colored containers with very clear rules appeared near my home,” the actress recalls.
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Soon the new habit became completely natural. “Once you start, you can’t stop. It seems like your hand itself won’t let you throw plastic together with banana peels into the same bag,” she smiles.
Today, almost every type of waste in her home has its place: one bin for plastic and paper packaging, another for organic waste, batteries are collected in a separate box, deposit containers in a separate box, textiles in a separate bag. And Aušra takes unwanted household appliances to the district waste collection point set up in the apartment building’s hallway.
By the way, A. Štukytė recently also joined the deposit container collection campaign – becoming one of its leading faces and voices.
One item still confuses her
Although most sorting rules are already clear to the actress, one item still raises questions for her.
“For example, a broken umbrella? It seems like bulky waste, but throwing it into the general container felt strange. I still don’t know where it should be thrown according to the rules,” A. Štukytė wonders.
Representatives of the Producers and Importers Association “Future of Nature” remind that a broken umbrella is not packaging, so its place is in the mixed municipal waste container. When sorting, it is important to remember the main rule – packaging is sorted, not items by their material.
Her biggest challenge today is not deciding where to throw waste, but preventing deposit containers and textiles from accumulating at home.
Changes start with one person
Why some people still do not sort waste, the actress does not have a single answer. In her opinion, some simply do not trust what happens to collected waste, others have not yet developed this habit.
However, Aušra has no doubt that the efforts of one person to sort waste make sense: “Everything starts with one good example.”
Speaking about consumption, A. Štukytė says that retailers could also take a bigger role: “Milk, kefir, protein shakes, wine, shampoos, cleaners, liquid detergents. Packaging of all these products could be returned to deposit machines.”
Kotryna Žukauskaitė-Šiaučiulė, head of sustainability culture at “Future of Nature,” points out that although the deposit system in Lithuania works very successfully, it was created for specific beverage packaging.
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According to her, including packaging such as shampoo, cleaners, or other household chemical products in the deposit system would require large additional investments and new infrastructure.
The specialist reminds that these packages are already adapted for sorting in containers that are easily accessible to residents, and their collection and management are financed by producers and importers, so residents do not have to pay extra for this service. She also emphasizes that sorting containers are intended specifically for packaging, so the most important thing is to use them correctly.
One thing she just doesn’t understand
Actress A. Štukytė says she has long given up single-use bags for fruits and vegetables: “At some point, I realized that those single-use bags for vegetables and fruits are not needed at all. Since then, I put everything straight into the basket. I will wash it at home anyway.”
But what angers her the most is not everyday trash, but large waste deliberately left in nature, such as tires, old furniture, or plumbing fixtures.
Why throw it into the stream? Especially tires. At least leave it by the roadside, why into the stream? I don’t understand this.
“After all, collection points are just ten kilometers away. You arrive, register, and leave everything neatly. Why throw it into the stream? Especially tires. Well, at least leave it by the roadside, why into the stream? I don’t understand this,” Aušra wonders.
And for skeptics who still doubt whether sorting is worth it, the actress has a unique argument: “Because it’s good karma. You will live longer, be more successful, and fate will give unexpected gifts,” A. Štukytė laughs.
“Sorting Champions” is a national initiative by the organization “Future of Nature” and the media group 15min, documenting ongoing sustainability changes in the country’s municipalities.
The initiative invites to choose responsibly, use longer, and sort properly. Every municipality and every resident can become a sorting champion – it just takes the right habits.
Before throwing away waste, let’s pause for a moment and think: is it packaging, what is it made of, and where does it belong? Such everyday decisions help recycle more waste, conserve natural resources, and create a more sustainable future.
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Let’s become sorting champions!
