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The environmental properties of three geotechnical composites made by recycling wastes were investigated on a laboratory scale and in the field with the use of lysimeters designated for the revitalization of degraded mining sites. Composites were prepared by combining the mine waste with paper-mill sludge and foundry sand (Composite 1), with digestate from municipal waste and paper ash (Composite 2), and with coal ash, foundry slag and waste incineration bottom ash (Composite 3). The results of laboratory leaching tests proved that Composites 1 and 3 are envi- ronmentally acceptable, according to the legislative limits, as the potentially hazardous substances were immobilized, while in Composite 2, the legislative limits were exceeded. In the field lysimeters, the lowest rate of leaching was determined for optimally compacted Composites 1 and 3, while for Composite 2 the leaching of Cu was high. This study proved that optimally installed Composites 1 and 3 are environmentally acceptable for use in construction as an alternative to virgin materials, for the revitalization of degraded mining sites or, along with Composite 2, for closure operations with landfills. In this way, locally available waste streams are valorised and channelized into a beneficial and sustainable recycling practice.

Temperature control is the primary concern during the design and construction process of mass concrete structures. As the concrete production has an enormous negative environmental impact, the development of green mass concretes will eventually become as important as the thermal characteristics. Therefore, this paper investigates the use of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel slag aggregate for the partial replacement of the natural aggregate in the production of mass concrete. The impact of EAF steel aggregate on mass concrete workability, strength, and thermal behaviour was analysed. In addition, a cradle-to-gate LCA study was conducted to evaluate the environmental footprint and sustainability potential of the tested mass concrete mixtures. The study results suggest that the use of EAF steel slag aggregate in combination with a low-heat cement with a high content of blast furnace slag can significantly lower the temperature, reduce the environmental impact, and increase the sustainability potential of mass concrete, while at the same time providing sufficient workability and compressive strength. The study results indicate that EAF steel slag can be upcycled into an aggregate for the production of green mass concrete mixtures. Nasl. z nasl. zaslona. Opis vira z dne: 29. 11. 2022. Št. članka 15502. Abstract. Bibliografija: str. 18-20.

Heavy metal abundance and potential environmental risks are reported for surface sediments (n = 21) from the Port of Koper area, Republic of Slovenia. The enrichment factor (EF) indicates minor enrichment in arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn), moderately to severely enriched with nickel (Ni). The trace metal chemistries, in the context of sediment quality guidelines (SQG), imply adverse threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and probable effect concentrations (PEC), for Ni only. Sediment sequential leaching experiments demonstrated that the majority of heavy metals were of natural lithogenic origin and low bioavailability. The heavy metals’ potential for “Risk Assessment Code” values exhibited no or low anthropogenic environmental burden, with the exception of Mo.

Innovation and Technology. EIT RawMaterials vision is to develop raw materials into a major strength for Europe. Its mission is to enable sustainable competitiveness of the European minerals, metals and materials sector along the value chain by driving innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. EIT RawMaterials is a pan-European partner network covering entire raw material value chain with more than 120 Core and Associated partners from all three sides of Knowledge Triangle – research, education and industry. We are representing the world’s largest community in the raw materials sector. Slovenia and Croatia are covered by Eastern Co-location center and are represented by 2 Slovenian partners (Geological Survey of Slovenia and Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute) and Croatia by Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering University of Zagreb. To achieve radical Innovation along the Raw Materials Value Chain the following Knowledge and Innovation Themes are defined: Exploration, Mines for Modern Society, Develop and improve processing, Substitution, Recycling and Circular Economy. These themes are addressed with three groups of activities: 1. Matchmaking and networking, 2. Acceleration and 3. Education Activities. Specific activities within the EIT Regional Innovation scheme (RIS) focus on countries with limited or no participation in the EIT Community’s activities, where innovation capacity is moderate or modest (by European Commission Scorebord) and which otherwise would not be able to benefit from the experience gained by the KICs. Most activities implemented by Slovenian and Croatian partners are funded as Regional Innovation Scheme projects, focusing on involvement of ESEE countries in the KICs activities. With the same mission Regional center Adria – EIT RawMaterials hub was established in the beginning of 2018, so 2019 is our second implementation year. RC Adria’s has 3 founding members (all three mentioned institutions) covering Slovenia and Croatia with an outreach to SEE/Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). RC Adria’s basic activities are: - Interface between EIT RawMaterials and local RIS SEE knowledge triangle - Offer information about EIT RawMaterials funding, networking events, new potential business partners, project ideas and business support for stakeholders from SEE region - Provide expertise to national, regional and local authorities - Mobilise, connect and internationalise national/regional networks - Identify funding and project opportunities - Contribute to project ‘s development and implementation In 2019 RC Adria’s most important activities are: - Two matchmaking and networking events – one in Croatia and one in Slovenia: Croatia Waste Expo and Industry Symbiosis Workshop – 22 October 2019, Zagreb ADRIA Innovation Day 2019 with a title Innovation in primary and secondary raw materials sector in the South-East Europe is going to be held on 23 October 2019, in Hoteli Bernardin, resort and conference centre in Portorož-Portorose, Slovenia. ADRIA Innovation Day is a one-day event aiming to present available opportunities for the business sector under the EIT Raw Materials and the Regional Center ADRIA to enhance raw materials network in the South-East Europe. Invited speakers and participants of the ADRIA Innovation Day are professionals from business organizations in primary and secondary raw materials sectors - large companies, SMEs, Start-ups or idea holders, decision and policy makers as well as business support organizations from Slovenia, Croatia and other countries from the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia). Event is co-organized by Geological Survey of Slovenia and Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute. - Internship program for ESEE raw materials students is going to be implemented for the first time this year. - RawMaterials business idea development is going to be supported as well.