Port of Koper

The Port produces various types of waste. In terms of our commitment for the environment, we regularly separate waste, recycle and process it. Separating waste is carried out at all the terminals, by the users of the economic zone and on ships. Separate collection of waste is performed by authorised collectors, while organic waste is processed at the composting facility. In waste processing we also cooperate with companies other than without our company.

Around 160,000 liters of extra light fuel oil per year will be replaced with the energy from the biomass (wooden leftovers –own energy source) and solar energy

In order to ensure the safe navigation of vessels in the Port’s basins and approach channels have to be dredged to the prescribed depth. To this end, we deepen the basins, which generate sea sediment. The sediment is deposited within the area of the Port. As the company’s disposal areas are limited, studies have commenced into alternative uses of the excavated materials. As an experiment, we manufactured a brick from the sea sediment and a real brick from a mixture of sea sediment and marl. The properties of the manufactures brick complied with the requirements for construction material. In 2014, we will build a promotional building from the brick.

Strategic direction of the programme is to exploit the potential of biomass for development of advanced materials and bio-based products, by creating new value chains for cascading utilisation of biomass. The programme is placed within priority area S4 (Slovenia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy) – The natural and traditional resources for the future, Networks for the transition to the circular economy, and is co-financed by EU Structural Funds in Slovenia. It comprises all of the identified focus areas and technologies: technologies for development of new bio -based materials, technologies for utilisation of secondary raw materials, and technologies for reuse of waste and production of energy from alternative sources. ogramme is a cooperation platform for top research teams mastering various areas of expertise, while Luka Koper is cooperating within the Work package number 4, which aims at examining the development of processes for the biological and mechanical processing of solid waste into value added products. The aim of Section 4 is to develop technologies for final processing and material utilisation of waste, and thus closing this comprehensive cycle of production and re-use of lignocellulosic material. Research focuses on exploitation of solid organic and inorganic waste, using combination of mechanical and biological treatments to achieve total material utilisation of waste, resulting in new value added products.
Removing lignocellulosic waste is a challenge for variety of industries, as it still generates significant costs. Therefore, we aim to develop procedures for bio processing of waste, generated through fractionalization of biomass and within fibre processing industry (biological sludge). Through cultivation of fungi, we will be able to isolate enzymes that can be used to improve industry processes, especially in paper recycling. Our activities will result in validated process parameters for enzyme production and utilisation.
Lastly, for efficient material utilisation of waste, waste generated from biological decomposition together with other usable waste from consortium partners (marine sludge, paper sludge, ash, de-inking sludge…), will be evaluated for further use in the construction sector. The result will be valorised assortments and homogenization of waste for further use in different products in construction sectors.