The Municipality of Postojna, the main partner of the Waste design 2.0 project, which starts in October 2023 and will last until the end of September 2025, hosted the first meeting of all project partners (public company Komunala Izola d.o.o., the Municipality of Nova Gorica, IUAV University of Venice, and the Municipality of Devin Nabrežina).
The project, worth €738,982.80, of which 80% is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the amount of €591,186.24, builds on the results and effects of the WASTE DESIGN project, implemented by the Municipality of Postojna, Komunala Izola, IUAV University, and Isontina Ambiente. In the WASTE DESIGN 2.0 project, the partners aim to strengthen and improve these effects and results by transferring them to new partners and environments and increasing their visibility in the programming area. The Municipality of Postojna and Komunala Izola (PP2) implemented pilot investments in underground ecological islands for waste separation in the first project, where they tested innovative digital technology for container fill monitoring. In this new project, they will reinforce these results by installing new ecological islands with a digital system, thus enhancing the results of the WASTE DESIGN project. IUAV University conducted a study on methodologies and materials for recycling construction waste and created prototypes of urban furniture made from recycled materials. In this new project, they will extend the study to other types of materials, test different methodologies, and create new prototypes of urban furniture and other useful products. Through the implementation of pilot activities, the partners will have the opportunity to analyze the effectiveness of the technologies used and the sustainability and usefulness of recycled products.
The specific objective of the project, titled "Development of common solutions and testing of innovative technologies in the field of waste management and reuse to promote the circular economy," is to contribute to the transition to a circular economy through better waste management and promotion of recycling and reuse through digital technologies and awareness-raising activities for target groups.
Through project activities, the aim is to increase awareness among populations and stakeholders at the local, regional, national, and transboundary levels about the importance of waste separation and reuse, thus contributing to the transition to a circular economy. The partners will achieve this goal through common transboundary activities directly involving the project's target groups: waste management entities at all levels, educational institutions, businesses, NGOs, and the local population of the cross-border area.
The following activities are planned during the two-year project:
- Implementation of two study visits (Postojna and Izola)
- Installation of 4 ecological islands with new technologies (Postojna, Municipality of Nova Gorica)
- Replacement of existing bins with smart bins (Municipality of Devin Nabrežina)
- Research on possibilities for reusing "small" construction waste with innovative technologies (IUAV)
- Technologies (IUAV)
- Exhibition (IUAV)
- Waste Design 2.0 laboratory to promote recycling in construction and the production of urban furniture - within the framework of the "Zero Waste Week" project
- Three prototypes of furniture and/or coverings for urban spaces will be created (e.g., flooring or other coverings).
During the first meeting, held in Postojna at the premises of the Entrepreneurial Incubator Perspektiva, where the project partners were welcomed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Postojna, Igor Marentič, the project's management committee presented and conducted their work. At the same time, in the second part of the meeting, the first study visit was conducted to transfer best practices in waste management and reuse in the cross-border area. In Postojna, they visited the underground ecological islands with a digital system for waste separation control, built last year and managed by the company Publikus
During the first meeting, held in Postojna at the premises of the Entrepreneurial Incubator Perspektiva, where the project partners were welcomed by the Mayor of the Municipality of Postojna, Igor Marentič, the project's management committee presented and conducted their work. At the same time, in the second part of the meeting, the first study visit was conducted to transfer best practices in waste management and reuse in the cross-border area. In Postojna, they visited the underground ecological islands with a digital system for waste separation control, built last year and managed by the company Publikus.
