In May, Slovenia welcomed waste management experts from six European countries. As part of the CLEAR CITIES project, the study visit offered European partners valuable insights into waste management practices in the Ljubljana Urban Region and showcased advanced solutions – from AI-powered robots and paper made from invasive knotweed to insulation materials crafted from textile waste and initiatives fostering a culture of sharing and repair. The diversity of European practices highlighted the potential for adapting general waste disposal tariffs and for systemically integrating innovative approaches into waste management strategies.

While our consumer habits are generating more waste each day, the waste management sector is actively seeking ways to improve waste separation and reuse while reducing the carbon footprint at every possible step. The Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) aims to address this issue more ambitiously in the future. Through the CLEAR CITIES project, it collaborates with representatives from cities, regional development agencies, and waste operators from Sweden, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and Italy. The goal: to exchange knowledge and innovative practices for adaptation and policy improvement.

In May, the agency hosted the project partnership in Ljubljana, presenting a holistic approach to the circular economy, state-of-the-art regional waste processing infrastructure, and a range of local innovations that engage residents and promote sustainable habits.

How Much Waste Do We Separate – and How Innovative Are We?

During a visit to the Regional Waste Management Centre (RCERO) – one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Europe – the public utility JP VOKA SNAGA showcased modern waste collection and processing methods used across 11 municipalities. In this area, an impressive 68% of waste is separated, with the remainder being put to efficient energy use. Waste separation habits in the Ljubljana Urban Region – and indeed in Slovenia as a whole – are commendable. However, the international partners pointed out motivational models used abroad, where households pay for general waste disposal proportionally to the amount in their “black bin.” This pay-as-you-throw approach significantly encourages waste reduction by financially rewarding responsible behaviour.

At the Center Rog, Maja Rozman, MSc, from the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia, presented a draft of the national communication strategy on waste management, aimed at improving awareness and changing consumption habits.

A particular highlight was Kocerod, a waste management company from the northern Carinthia region of Slovenia, which sorts waste using artificial intelligence. Facing a shortage of staff for these physically demanding and less desirable jobs, the company invested in a robotic arm that uses cameras and advanced algorithms to recognize waste in real time based on shape, color, texture, and size – and sorts it with precision. The system separates around 8,000 plastic bottles per day. It provides detailed waste composition analysis, insights into user habits, and helps identify areas with less effective waste separation. As a self-learning system, it continuously improves and optimizes processes.

Participants also visited the company Koto, where nothing goes to waste. Their biogas plant runs continuously, and the company is involved in several research projects focused on maximizing the use of biological waste. At the moment, for instance, they are exploring ways to regenerate depleted soil – in March, they planted a test olive grove on degraded land along the Slovenian coast, enriched with digestate, olive press residue, and biochar.

At Aquafil – a company that emerged from the former Yugoslav Yulon – visitors had the opportunity to witness the production of so-called “eternal nylon.” This breakthrough process transforms waste nylon materials, such as discarded fishing nets, into sustainable fibers under the brand name ECONYL®. These are supplied globally for use in high-quality carpets, flooring, and fashion products for the textile and sports industries.

Gentle Nudges Towards Changing Our Habits

The EU Mission 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities information Info Point in the heart of Ljubljana is a lively venue for various sustainability workshops, open to residents and frequently tailored to school groups. Experts from the City of Ljubljana presented the partnership with the city’s action plan for the circular economy, while Center Rog captivated visitors with its inclusive concept and a tour of its labs. Here, for a symbolic fee, users can learn practical skills and share access to technical equipment – from 3D printers to goldsmith tools.
The delegation also visited the “Library of Things” in one of the Ljubljana districts, where locals can borrow anything from gardening tools to ice skates and board games. Sharing encourages both reduced consumption and stronger community ties.

Turning Invasive into Innovative: PAPLAB

PAPLAB emerged as an initiative within JP VOKA SNAGA. In their workshop in Zalog, the European delegation witnessed how invasive alien plants – primarily the ever-present Japanese knotweed – are turned into stylish paper and unique products such as greeting cards and bags that can be rewrapped time and again in fresh paper designs. Much of the raw material is harvested during community action events. In addition to creating new green jobs, this practice is a beautiful example of circular economy in Ljubljana.

Guilt-Free Furniture and Fashion: KNOF

Mojca Žganec Metelko from the social enterprise KNOF introduced the European partners to their innovative approach to recycling textile waste. Their product range includes clothes redesigned from preserved garments, and in their materials lab, they explore reuse processes for various materials through custom orders or project collaborations. Recently, they launched KNOFtex – acoustic insulation panels for offices and homes, made from recycled textiles. This solution reduces textile waste while offering a sustainable approach to soundproofing. Through initiatives like this, KNOF fosters a more conscious relationship with material use and the environment.

Innovative processes that merge environmental responsibility with progress lie at the heart of the circular economy. They require a systemic response, both in Slovenia and abroad. Waste with the potential for a second life must be directed towards circular and innovative businesses, and public awareness of the value of certain waste streams must be raised. The study visit in Ljubljana played a key role in facilitating knowledge transfer and strengthening the likelihood of successfully implementing good practices in European cities transitioning towards a low-carbon society.