Waste Separation – What can we learn from abroad?
European cities today face a major challenge: how to reduce waste volumes while organising collection and transport schemes that are environmentally responsible, cost-efficient and user-friendly. The latest takeaways that the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) will share with local stakeholders include: digitalised collection (to cut logistics, increase household responsibility and enable fairer pay-as-you-throw models), an example of electrifying Gothenburg’s waste collection fleet, the introduction of an innovative floating collection station on the river for bulky and other waste, and even vacuum collection in apartment blocks. All of these are solutions that may be adapted to the Ljubljana Urban Region.
Cleaner cities and regions
Within the CLEAR CITIES Interreg project, RRA LUR exchanges knowledge and good practices with cities and regions from six European countries. Partners adapt them to local needs to design smarter solutions and innovative policies for a transition to sustainable waste management.
After meetings in Spain, the Netherlands and Ljubljana, the partnership gathered in Gothenburg, Sweden, to focus on sustainable logistics in municipal waste collection and transport. Shared examples show that the future of waste management lies in digitalisation, electrification and new community-based approaches.
Timely pick-ups, fleet electrification and a collection point on water—ideas also relevant for the Ljubljana Urban Region
Detached houses in Gothenburg typically have three bins, each split into two or three fractions to support higher-quality separation. Clear pick-up cycles—every one, two or three weeks depending on the bin—raise household accountability and streamline city logistics.
A most meaningful lesson comes from the Lamoro Regional Development Agency, showcasing a smart waste-management system currently being introduced in Piedmont, inspired by strong results from Rome and Lombardy. Bins are equipped with fill-level sensors, smart locks and user-level quantity measurement. Such digitalisation enables efficient collection planning, fairer pricing (pay-by-quantity) and prevents overflowing containers.
The City of Apeldoorn (NL) presented a similar “just-in-time” approach: despite rising volumes in individual fractions, they have reduced routes and working hours. Over the last two years, they collected 20% more plastics and paper while spending just over 10% less time on it. In more than half of the Ljubljana Urban Region, VOKA SNAGA already collects 67% of waste separately—a strong result that digitalisation could further improve.
Electric trucks, energy from waste and community-friendly collection points
Gothenburg proves that better service can come with fewer kilometres and lower emissions. The city’s waste truck fleet has not relied on fossil fuels since 2015 and now the municipality aims to electrify at least 60% of its fleet by 2030. In partnership with Volvo, the city developed electric waste collection trucks tailored to local needs—15 are already in service. Drivers report higher satisfaction, vehicles require less maintenance, and both emissions and noise levels are lower. Policy-wise, it’s a strong case of innovative green public procurement.
The visit also included a look at the Envac vacuum collection system. Residents place their waste bags into neat chutes inside their apartment buildings; the bags are then transported through underground pipelines into central collection containers. This reduces truck traffic in residential areas and makes separation easier for residents.
Landfilling in Gothenburg is minimal thanks to the Renova waste-to-energy plant. Most residual waste is turned into energy that supplies one third of the region with district heating and about 5% of the city’s electricity demand. The high carbon footprint comes almost entirely from incinerating fossil-based materials (plastics). Stronger extended producer responsibility at EU level is awaited, as this would decisively curb plastic production—which is today 200 times larger than fifty years ago. The city is also planning on-site CO₂ capture, transport and storage under the sea. In parallel, local universities are piloting AI-supported sorting (project CertAIn) to raise the quality of separation at collection points.
A floating recycling barge, stationed for two weeks at selected riverfront locations, allows residents to drop off a wide range of waste (bulky items, goods for re-use, hazardous waste, wood, metals, etc.). The pilot, designed to reduce car trips and keep heavy trucks out of residential areas, became a regular city service in 2021. The barge is moved by an electric tug. Its convenience not only boosts environmental responsibility but also strengthens community ties, making it highly popular with residents.
ETRI – the voice of community and re-use in Slovenia
As part of the local stakeholder network formed under CLEAR CITIES, Lenka Puh from the ETRI community joined the visit. ETRI connects local initiatives, social entrepreneurs and circular practices in re-use and sharing. With concrete projects—from meals for seniors made from supermarket surplus and served at Pod Strehco (Under a tiny roof – a community restaurant in Ljubljana-Moste), to skills development for vulnerable groups producing sustainable products, and support for social start-ups—ETRI shows how community practice can significantly reduce waste while strengthening the local economy.
Inspiration for adoption at home
Conditions in the Ljubljana Urban Region are ripe for similar steps—from digital tools for better oversight and route optimization to community practices that bring residents together. CLEAR CITIES will be an important source of support along the way.
-
A floating collection point on the river in Gothenburg stays in a neighbourhood for two weeks before an electric tug moves it to its next location. Residents can bring everything from items for sharing/re‑use to bulky waste, metals and hazardous materials. Photo: RRA LUR.
-
A floating collection point on the river in Gothenburg stays in a neighbourhood for two weeks before an electric tug moves it to its next location. Residents can bring everything from items for sharing/re‑use to bulky waste, metals and hazardous materials. Photo: RRA LUR.
-
A floating collection point on the river in Gothenburg stays in a neighbourhood for two weeks before an electric tug moves it to its next location. Residents can bring everything from items for sharing/re‑use to bulky waste, metals and hazardous materials. Photo: RRA LUR.
-
Visit of RENOVA - waste collection company in Gothenburg, effectively transforming waste to energy by incineration. Photo: BI RDA
-
Visit of RENOVA - waste collection company in Gothenburg, effectively transforming waste to energy. Photo: RRA LUR.
-
Visit of RENOVA - waste collection company in Gothenburg, effectively transforming waste to energy. Photo: RRA LUR.
-
Clear Cities Partnership – reviewing achievements and next Steps. Photo: RRA LUR
-
Clear Cities Partnership exchanging knowledge and good pratices at Rohsska Museum, Gothenburg. Photo: BI RDA.
-
Clear Cities Partnership exchanging knowledge and good pratices at Rohsska Museum, Gothenburg. Photo: RRA LUR
-
The ENVAC system enables a comfortable and clean service: residents drop their bags into a neat waste chute in the apartment hallway, from where the vacuum system transfers the separated waste at 70 km/h through underground pipes, collecting it at one instead of several points in the neighbourhood. Photo: RRA LUR
-
The ENVAC system enables a comfortable and clean service: residents drop their bags into a neat waste chute in the apartment hallway, from where the vacuum system transfers the separated waste at 70 km/h through underground pipes, collecting it at one instead of several points in the neighbourhood. Photo: RRA LUR
-
project
CLEAR CITIES: Promoting Carbon-Less Urban Waste management policies for sustainable, safe, and resilient cities
