Koper wins ESPO award

Port of Koper won the award because of its No waste, just resources! project which deals with good practice in waste management by encouraging the re-use and reprocessing of waste products into environmentally-friendly materials.

Dragimir Matić, president of the management board, Port of Koper, said: “We are very proud that Koper has been recognised as the best practice case among European ports regarding environmental issues. In the last ten years we have spent more than 30 million of euro in technical improvements and equipment to reduce the impact of port operations on the everyday lives of the local communities.”

Koper’s project concentrated on spraying of dusty cargoes with cellulose mixture, the use of waste wood for heating, composting and use of marine sediments for construction purposes. The aim was to make environmental improvements both for the benefit of the wider port and the local community.

Now in its sixth year, the ESPO awards celebrate the role that ports can play in maintaining the natural environment and contributing to a sustainable future. The five ports shortlisted for this year’s awards were Huelva, Koper, Lisbon, Marseille and Rotterdam.

This was the third time that Koper had been shortlisted for the award and the port said that being recognised by ESPO is confirmation that the port is headed in the right direction in terms of environmental policy.