A recycling workshop was held at Šenčur Primary School on used beverage cartons recycling. The workshop involved a group of talented and curious children who tested how simple it is to recycle the cellulose part of the beverage cartons.

What have we learned?

On average, 75% of UBC consists of long and strong paper fibres that can be recycled into new products such as hygienic paper handkerchiefs, towels, toilet paper and others. So it is very important to empty, flatten, close and place this packaging in a yellow container bins after use. That way we enable the reuse of valuable material.  

During the workshop, demonstrators also performed a short Eco quiz. Students showed a very hign level of knowledge, for which they should be especially commended!

Municipal material cycle – local circular economy programme

In the area of Komunala Kranj – which is covering Municipalities Kranj, Šenčur, Naklo, Preddvor and Jezersko – the Municipal Material Cycle of UBC and hygiene paper is already established. The local community provides their own raw materials for producing hygiene paper for the use in local schools and other public institutions.

Šenčur Primary School is the first school in Upper Carniola region to be involved in the Communal Material Circle project. Since September, the school and kindergarten are using recycled hygiene paper products to contribute to the conservation of natural resources and the protection of the environment.

Mayors of five Slovenian municipalities - Kranj, Šenčur, Naklo, Preddvor and Jezersko signed an agreement with Komunala Kranj to establish the Municipal Material Cycle (MMC) of UBC and hygiene paper.

Municipalities will actively promote MMC within their public institutions – schools, kindergartens, health, sports, cultural institutions, and public enterprises. Altogether, those institutions could arrange the processing of 90 tonnes of UBC per year.

The establishment of MMC in these municipalities is connected to their commitment to the Zero Waste strategy. They will even more actively work towards reducing waste, increasing share of separated fractions, ensuring a clean environment, and changing the habits of the public toward more sustainable and circular practices.

The municipality of Novo mesto (MONM) is becoming an example for green and circular public procurement. 21 public institutions and companies, including the Municipality of Novo mesto, have come together to joint public procurement of hygienic paper made from used beverage cartons – locally called KEMSO.

The contract for the supply of hygienic paper was signed by the Mayor of The Municipality of Novo Mesto Gregor Macedoni MA and CEO of Valtex d. o. o., Špela Redjko.

It is an upgrade of the circular economy project from 2015, when the local municipal material cycle of UBC and hygiene paper was first established in Novo mesto. Due to the good references and experience of the first users, the municipality decided to invite the remaining municipal institutions to join the project.

With this green and circular public procurement tender MONM sets an example and encourages public institutions to undertake the performance of such projects more courageously and to design products and services according to the circular economy principles. It is in common interest to protect our environment and to enable the reuse (locally) collected packaging and waste.

As the mayor Gregor Macedoni told, with today's signing, the MONM is actualizing its to become a leading local community in the field of circular economy. "With this green and circular joint public procurement, we ensure a large share of hygiene paper from reused local packaging waste in our public institutions" the mayor added. At the signing, he also explained that potential suppliers were evaluated according to two criteria – the price and 'zero waste'. The selected supplier offered the lowered price and also matched the 'zero waste' criteria. This price offer provides lower costs for majority of institutions involved – so this confirms the thesis that green decisions are not necessarily more expensive.

The CEO of Valtex, Špela Redjko, pointed out that they were proud that they were identified as the most appropriate partner in the project. She added: "We are committed to a sustainable business. The mission of our company is to help our partners in the gradual or immediate transition to sustainable solutions and increasing the safety and well-being of their employees, visitors and other users. In product selection, we follow the guide to achieve the best results and to create positive effects for both - the environment and the wider community, and to co-create a place for a healthy living."

Green and circular public procurement is also a popular theme at European level, where MONM as a partner participates in the European project CircLocal, which aims to exchange good practices also in the field of circular public procurement. Across Europe, the focus of public procurement is on preventing corruption and ensuring the lowest prices of goods and services supplied, and the project partners point out that new standards need to be put in place in the area of public procurement that will promote innovation, a circular economy and target social and environmental objectives. As part of the project, the municipality has set up a local network of organizations that are active in the field of circular economy and is preparing an international workshop, where, among other things, it will present this case as a good example of green and circular public procurement.

The Municipal Material Cycle of beverage cartons and hygiene paper, which already operates successfully in 15 Slovene municipalities, will soon come to life in Slovakia. Ivona Urbanova has been chosen to take over the position of National Coordinator of the project in Slovakia to ensure the establishment and development of this important circular economy program. Ivona Urbanova is an environmental expert and independent waste management consultant. She has many years of experience in developing new solutions in waste management - as sales manager in international waste management company FCC in Slovakia and later as an independent consultant, she worked closely with industry and municipalities to help them on the path to sustainable development and circular solutions in the field of waste.

As national coordinator for Slovakia, Ivona Urbanova will be responsible for the establishment and development of Municipal Material Cycles as well as the acquisition of supporters and members in the participating municipalities. One of the most important roles of this circular economy program is to raise awareness of the municipal government, institutions, and local public, that they can encourage more sustainable development of their community and thus positively impact the development of the local community, the economy and the environment in the long term.

The municipal material cycle of beverage cartons and hygiene paper packaging can be set up in any municipality or city in the EU that has a municipal waste separation system in place. Therefore, we plan to expand the MMC area also to other interested EU countries.