Snaga Ljubljana the biggest Slovenian waste management company
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About Snaga Ljubljana
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Snaga Ljubljana public company is the largest Slovenian company for managing municipal waste. Through its sophisticated system, it handles waste for nearly 400,000 residents of the Municipality of Ljubljana, as well as ten bordering municipalities. Snaga has achieved excellent results: Ljubljana has the highest share of separately collected waste among the capital cities of the European Union, while keeping waste management costs among the lowest in Europe.
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Snaga also manages municipal public and green areas, public restrooms, etc. and maintains Ljubljana’s regional parks. It has established an expert group for the care and maintenance of urban trees. Sustainable management, responsibility and development
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The vision of the company is to be a leader in the development and introduction of sustainable waste management solutions that can be delivered in an environmentally conscious and economically effective manner. The main goals are to enable the highest quality sustainable waste management services, responsibly meet the needs and expectations of residents, as well as comprehensively develop waste management solutions.
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RELEVANT RESULTS AND BEST PRACTICES IN THE REGION (EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS WIDER AREA)
A key factor to Ljubljana´s success was the introduction of door-to-door collection, which contributed the most to the sharp increase in recycling rates. As separate collection increased, the amount of residual waste continuously declined.
The scheme, fully operated by Snaga´s staff, was backed by Snaga´s well managed communication strategy in cooperation with other relevant stakeholders.
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Ljubljana is the European capital with the largest share of separately collected waste (according to a European Commission study)
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Ljubljana’s Regional Waste Management Centre is the most modern and sustainable waste treatment facility in Europe Ljubljana’s Regional Waste Management Centre is the most modern waste treatment facility in Europe, processing biodegradable and residual waste of one third of the country’s population.
The facility processes 150 thousand tonnes of mixed waste, and 20 thousand tonnes of bio waste each year, creating 30 thousand tonnes of raw, recyclable material, 60 thousand tonnes of fuel and seven thousand tonnes of compost. The electrical energy and heat energy from the biogas produced in the process is reused directly in the facility. At the end of the process, just five per cent of residual waste ends up in landfill. Ljubljana’s Regional Waste Management Centre is managed by Snaga Ljubljana.
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Ljubljana is the first Zero Waste capital in Europe
Ljubljana, the 2016 European Green Capital, is the first European capital to be a member of the Zero Waste Europe network thanks to investing in the Zero Waste Strategy. Ljubljana’s Zero Waste Strategy embraces the best waste management practices in the EU by prioritising waste prevention. The Slovenian capital’s exemplary approach to managing urban waste and developing a local circular economy
is multi-pronged. Such a strategy facilitates recycling and reuse, improves the separation and treatment of waste, and encourages citizens and businesses to reduce the amount of waste they generate in the first place. This is a remarkable achievement, accomplished over the past decade, in which policy-makers, businesses and citizens have worked together to create a more sustainable urban environment.
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In 2014 Ljubljana won the 2016 Green Capital of Europe award
The European Green Capital Award is an award for a European city based on its environmental record. The award is given by the European Commission to a city that has a consistent record of achieving high environmental standards; is committed to ongoing and ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development; can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote
best practices to all other European cities. Among the five finalists for European Green Capital in 2016, Ljubljana was the only city without a waste incineration plant or plans to build one. Instead, it has focused on alternative solutions, including a comprehensive wastemanagement plan that has made significant progress towards developing a zerowaste society.
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On the invitation of Ellen MacArthur Foundation Ljubljana joined the Circular Cities Network
Ellen MacArthur Foundation is the leading organization working with business, government and academia to build a framework for a circular economy. Its global partners are renowned companies Danone, Google, H&M,
Intesa Sanpaolo, NIKE, Philips, Renault and Unilever. Circular Cities Network is a global network of city leaders who are pioneering the application of circular economy approaches to address today’s urban challenges.
In addition to Ljubljana, eleven cities have participated in the network (membership is by invitation only), namely, Austin, Boulder, Copenhagen, London, New York, Peterborough, Phoenix, Rio de Janeiro, Tel Aviv, Toronto and Vancouver.
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Ljubljana has 66 underground collection units, each containing separate bins for paper, glass, packaging, biological and other waste. Underground collection units mean easier waste disposal for young people, the elderly and the disabled, tidier streets with less vandalism, less noise from waste collection and fewer unpleasant smells.
Ljubljana had set itself a bold target. By 2025, the City plans to separately collect three quarters of all waste.
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Thanks to investing in a Zero Waste Strategy, with large-scale underground collection and eco-efficient technology, Ljubljana is leading urban sustainability, hosting the Zero Waste Europe network and engaging its citizens in active environmentalism.
The Municipality of Ljubljana believes that the transition towards a circular economy is pivotal for sustainable development. Snaga company plays an important role in this transition (usage of hygienic paper made of multi-layered cardboard packaging – closing material loops, making
paper from Japanese knotweed on semi-industrial level, upcycled furniture and equipment in the administrative building of RCERO Ljubljana, the use of compost, produced in RCERO Ljubljana on agricultural lands around the city, etc.)
The percentage of recyclable materials increases when municipalities introduce door-to-door collection systems. Door-to-door collection systems provide the highest recycling rates and the best quality of recyclables.
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WHY COOPERATE WITH US? Fees for waste management services in Ljubljana are based on the Pay-As-YouThrow (PAYT) principle. In PAYT schemes, households are charged according to the amount of waste they generate, linked to container sizes (volume-based schemes) and frequency of collection.
Complex Offer and Complex Solution
We are able to develop and implement appropriate and cost-effective policies, strategies and systems for municipal waste management (collection, transport treatment and disposal). We have the ability to grasp complex and dynamic legislation and the capacity to explain, apply and monitor such legislation.
Integrated waste management service
Snaga Ljubljana directly manages the entire integrated waste cycle for the territory served. An integrated waste management system combines waste collection, transport, treatment and disposal into a practical waste management system that aims to provide environmental sustainability. This is achieved by combining a range of treatment options including waste prevention and reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. In short, Snaga Ljubljana combines a variety of strategies for both waste management and waste reduction.
Boosting circular economy
Our sustainable and environmentally responsible waste management system solutions are in sync with circular economy principles. A circular economy is a system in which resource input and waste, emission and energy leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling. This is in contrast to a linear economy which is a ‘take, make, dispose’ model of production. We are systematically introducing actions and measures for waste prevention (especially food waste), reuse and repair throughout reuse centres.
Quality Team of Specialists
We have extensive expertise in waste policy and legislation, community waste management, stakeholder engagement and consultation on waste issues, business planning, human resources planning (recruitment, training and skills development), customer service, public procurement and financial management.
Deep understanding of how and why public opinion moves in a given direction
Average monthly cost per household is 8 euros. Compared to the costs billed by other waste management companies, it is among the lowest in Slovenia and wider region.
Our communication experts are qualified to design effective communication strategies and are highly experienced in public relations, corporate and digital communications management, event management, brand positioning, crisis communication, employee engagement & internal communication and corporate social responsibility.
Standardized Processes
Our work processes comply with ISO 9001, OHSAS and ISO 14001 standards.
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“The best way to predict the future is to design it.” Buckminister Fuller
Colophon Published by: Snaga Ljubljana Photography: David Lotrič, Matjaž Štefančič, Primož Bregar Ljubljana, February 2018