In the rapidly evolving world of sustainability, green waste is no longer merely a by-product of our daily lives — it is a key resource shaping the future of circular economy innovation. This month, we speak with Laurynas Virbickas, an expert working at the intersection of green waste processing, composting technologies, and vocational training. His work focuses on transforming organic waste into valuable materials, advancing circular solutions, and helping communities understand their role in Europe’s sustainability transition.
From active composting bioreactors to emerging technologies like liquefied biomethane, Laurynas offers a grounded perspective on where green waste management is heading — and what skills and mindset young people need to take part in this transformation. His message is clear: curiosity, initiative, and practical action are at the heart of meaningful change.
In this interview, Laurynas shares insights on future technologies, career opportunities in the sector, and how youth can contribute to achieving Europe’s 2030 sustainability goals.
1. WHAT ARE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES CURRENTLY USED FOR GREEN WASTE PROCESSING AND HOW ARE THEY SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THIS FIELD?
The future is more active composting bioreactors with gas extraction, perhaps even higher level technologies such as liquefied biomethane where so-called carbon credits could also emerge in the future, where the so-called active carbon is obtained, where carbon credits will be important for a part of the company to cover the company’s environmental neutrality. Currently, here we just have relatively simple technology. When materials are composted, green materials in a certain ratio to maintain the carbon-nitrogen balance — grass, shredded wood — composts over a certain period of time. With the water ratio we see that the temperature begins to drop, the active processes come to an end, then we sift it and get a nice compost.
2. WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DOES THIS FIELD OFFER YOUNG PEOPLE IN TERMS OF CAREER, VOLUNTEERING, OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
Actually, you know, at first when I studied my natural sciences bachelor’s, the master’s was already environmental engineering, and when I heard something about chemistry, waste… I’d immediately shut down, like I’m not interested, I’ll never need this in my life… and you don’t look into it any further. But in fact it’s important to be curious, and to be curious about everything. Because the potential is real. And as you know, many targets are set in Europe: how to reduce emissions, how much natural materials to recover from waste. So this field has great future potential.
3. HOW COULD YOUNG PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW GREEN TECHNOLOGIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES?
It’s probably about being more initiative, and not being indifferent. It just seems like, what difference does it make, this or that? I threw it away, what harm one banana or something can do… Of course, one might not cause anything, but when millions, even billions of people think like that, so, you know, there is an impact. It’s just about showing initiative, leading by example. Theory is theory, but you also need to see how it happens in practice. On one hand, there are laws or directives, and on the other hand, what is the reality, what are the possibilities. You need to weigh it all, but you just have to want it.
4. WHAT SKILLS OR KNOWLEDGE ARE MOST NEEDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK OR CREATE INNOVATIONS IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE RECYCLING SECTOR?
Skills and knowledge… Well, it’s not hard to find knowledge nowadays. I just want to read and absorb it. So you need to be able to absorb the right information from the abundance, and try to apply it practically, using your own example and experience to keep going.
5. HOW COULD EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS BETTER HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS FIELD?
There’s a lot, so much is needed, and if you ask a young person now, they want to be a YouTuber. But probably few YouTubers deal with waste or talk about that topic. You know, a few years ago it was a big trend that everyone needed to be an IT specialist, and programmers. Everyone was in short supply, salaries were huge. But the world is changing, A.I. has emerged. Now you write what you want and it generates a page for you. But there has been and will be waste. They won’t just disappear. So the problems will have to be solved.
6. WHAT SUPPORT OR MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS COULD HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MORE EASILY IMPLEMENT THEIR IDEAS RELATED TO GREEN WASTE RECYCLING?
So there are basically many such projects in Europe. It’s hard to grasp and even find them all. But we, even with our own example, this year we created additional vocational training programs specifically related to secondary raw materials management: sorting, recycling, green generation, energy recovery projects. So there is plenty to learn in this field. How much each person delves into it, how many projects they find, is up to them, but there are definitely some.
7. HOW COULD YOUNG PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO GREEN WASTE RECYCLING TO HELP ACHIEVE THE EUROPEAN AGENDA 2030 GOALS?
We have already discussed this multiple times with both the ministry and colleagues in this field, that the EU targets are so high that it will hardly be possible to achieve them, at least regarding waste, in terms of reducing and preventing green waste. The targets set are extremely complex and high. And to contribute… you know, there have been surveys on who sorts more. Unfortunately, young people sort no better than older ones. But for example, kids now, when taught in schools or kindergartens, already learn where to put things and why it matters. They go home and pass it on to their parents. So essentially, it’s very important from a young age to influence the older generation, but at the same time, this is also ours. Well, I’m maybe no longer from the Z, X, or Y generation… but not to be indifferent. Well, because through indifference, crises happen all over the world, both political and otherwise. Therefore, we must be active, show that determined will, and anything can be achieved.