With this project for sorting plant construction, an important element within the waste management system, investments in the waste collection and management system continue, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection.

Marko Filipović, mayor of Rijeka

Speaking on behalf of the City of Rijeka as the project manager, Marko Filipović, mayor of Rijeka, pointed out that overall more than HRK 37 million had been invested in the sorting plant. This is the first plant for sorting separately collected waste in Croatia, which will enable better utilisation and increase the value of useful raw materials from waste. Filipović thanked all partners for project realisation, as well as local government units taking part in it – the cities of Kastav, Kraljevica and Bakar and the municipalities of Viškovo, Klana, Čavle, Jelenje and Kostrena. Expressing his satisfaction with the fact that the project was completed within the deadline and that the licence for use was issued, the mayor said that the selection of the sorting operator would follow and had called citizens to separate as much waste as possible, because our common goal was a more beautiful and cleaner city.

Sanja Jelačić, spoke on behalf of the Fund for Environmental Protection

Sanja Jelačić, representative of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, intermediary body in the implementation of the EU project, pointed out that sorting plants were important links within the system as they enabled a larger amount of useful raw materials from separately collected waste.

Innovative equipment of the sorting plant

The decision on financing the project from EU funds was received in January 2020, and construction started in March 2021 after having implemented a public procurement procedure and after the competent authorities have controlled documentation. The construction was completed on 25 February, and the licence for use was obtained on 15 March.

The works were performed by the consortium Tehnix d.o.o. from Donji Kraljevec and GP Krk from Krk, IGH Institute from Zagreb was appointed as construction project manager, while supervision was performed by company Karloline Kling from Rijeka.

The daily amount of previously separated collected waste is planned at 50 tons

The sorting plant for separately collected waste (sorting plant) within the recycling centre in Mihačeva Draga stretches over a total area of 5,636 sq. m.

Final construction of the sorting plant

The works included the construction of a hall of the sorting plant, a canopy for disposing baled recycled materials, a weighing plant and a carport. Solar panels that produce electricity for the needs of the sorting plant have been installed on the roof the sorting hall, thus contributing to environmental protection and reducing operating costs.

The technological process of the plant, includes taking over, drying, sorting, baling, technological separation of unused material and recycling of raw materials that can have a market value, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and environmental protection, whereby ensuring preparation for reuse and recycling of paper, metal, plastic and glass from the household, in a minimum share of 50% of its weight, thus directly impacting the achievement of the European goal of reuse and recycling of municipal waste.

The planned quantity of previously separately collected waste that will enter the centre daily is approximately 50 tons.

The project is co-financed by EU funds

The project “Sorting plant for separately collected waste in Mihačeva Draga” is co-financed under the European Structural and Investment Funds – European Regional Development Fund – Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020.

The total project value amounts to HRK 37,301,045.00, of which eligible costs amount to HRK 31,284,318.09. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy under the structural and cohesion funds recognise 85% of the amount of eligible costs, namely the grant allocated by co-financing the eligible costs amounts to HRK 31,284,318.09.

The remaining funds up to the total project value amount to HRK 6,016,726.91 and are borne by the City of Rijeka and local self-government units – the cities of Kastav, Kraljevica and Bakar and the municipalities of Viškovo, Klana, Čavle, Jelenje and Kostrena, in accordance with the evaluation criteria relating to the share of an individual local self-government unit in the total quantity of waste.