Mechanical-biological waste treatment plant (MBT) with integrated biowaste treatment Ljubljana

Ljubljana Regional Waste Management Centre (RCERO Ljubljana) is the largest waste treatment facility in the country, handling ca. 170.000 t/a of different types of waste. STRABAG realized this design and build project as general contractor, including all infrastructure like roads, access bridge, buildings and offices, laboratories and leachate treatment.

This plant closes the circuit of the circular economy. It generates biogas from organic waste and processes this biogas up to natural gas quality which is used to fill the waste collection vehicle fleet of the client BSR, which collects the waste. The solid residues after the digestion process are composted and reused as valuable compost, the liquid residue is used as fertilizer in agriculture. This thermophilic dry digestion process with STRABAG’s patented LARAN^® plug flow digesters for biogas generation produce approx. 850 Nm³/h of biogas (5.5 MW).

The scope of works include:

The scope of work for the Mechanical-Biological Waste Treatment Plant (MBT) with Integrated Biowaste Treatment Ljubljana covers the complete implementation of advanced waste processing, recycling, and energy recovery systems designed for maximum efficiency and environmental compliance.

The facility includes waste reception in a deep bunker with cranes, ensuring safe and continuous material handling. A two-line treatment and sorting technology is installed for the production of high-quality refuse derived fuels (RDF) and the recovery of recyclable materials. The system integrates automatic segregation of various recyclables using near-infrared (NIR) detection, enabling precise material identification and improved recycling rates.

For organic waste processing, the plant provides feedstock preparation for bio-waste followed by treatment in three STRABAG LARAN® dry digester TF 2200 units, ensuring efficient anaerobic digestion. The process is supported by three-stage dewatering to optimize material handling and energy recovery. Fermentation residues undergo post-composting in 16 aerated boxes, guaranteeing stabilized and high-quality compost output. Final refining of compost ensures compliance with market and environmental standards.

Energy recovery is achieved through biogas utilization in three CHP units (3 × 800 kWel), generating renewable electricity and heat. The scope further includes comprehensive exhaust air treatment for odor and emission control, as well as the upgrading of leachate treatment to meet modern environmental regulations.
This integrated approach positions the facility as a state-of-the-art MBT plant combining mechanical treatment, biological processing, renewable energy generation, and advanced environmental protection systems.