Fabric structure facility for waste packaging management for the City of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Type: Fabric structure WSS for waste packaging management

Width: 50 m
Length: 40 m
Height: 6 m

In order to increase the storage and packaging capacities of collected waste packaging, investor City of Ljubljana launched a public tender for the installation of a fabric covered steel building. Schwarzmann’s experience and numerous successful projects in the field of steel structure facilities have contributed to the right turnkey solution service package for the investor.

A large 50 m clear span of the building, without intermediate columns and an adequate useful height of at least 6 m, was required to obtain a sufficiently large volume of the covered space and to manipulate the packaging waste. The hot-dip galvanized steel structure is covered by PVC membrane on all sides. The length of the building is 40 m.

We have also designed and assembled double sliding doors measuring 7 x 5.5 m on one end wall, which enables the access of machinery for waste manipulation. Rainwater drainage grooves have been installed along both lengths of the building.

In addition to the fabrication and installation of the facility, the City of Ljubljana project included the preparation of documentation for obtaining a building and operating permit according to the local legislation, as well as the preparation of terrain (tarmac surface of 60 x 50 m), with all associated utilities. Oil separators, a tank for waste water collection, fire water pool and a seepage drainage were constructed.

The total duration of the works was three and a half months, from the first 3D simulation of the project on the desired location to the handing over of the finished facility to the investor and obtaining a valid permit. The ongoing progress was closely monitored by the designated project manager, who coordinated all the work of the subcontractors, the preparation of all necessary documentation, and provided technical coordination with the investor, as well as supervision. With a large-scale project, communication and appropriate technical knowledge are crucial to the successful completion.

The completed facility thus presented a solution for investors requirements for suitable packaging surfaces for pre-collected waste. Alternatively, long-term storage of packaging waste in the open air reduces its usability and sales value, because of the negative influence of UV rays, ozone and precipitation water, which results in degradation of polymers, which make up a large part of municipal waste packaging. As a consequence, unsheltered waste packaging materials stored can no longer be recycled, but most often can only be thermally treated.

Especially in the summer, as the risk of fire increases, the accumulation of packaging on unpaved areas presents a burden on the environment, as precipitation water can flush substances and residues from stored packaging into groundwater.