Environmentally friendly, tough on the roads

On July 23, 2026, construction work continued at the hazardous waste landfill site Mala Mežakla near Jesenice, Slovenia, with the third containment area under development while the second one was being sealed off. The project, managed by the company HIS from Ljubljana, has been progressing steadily since autumn 2025 and is expected to conclude by year’s end. The new containment area will provide additional space for storing hazardous waste, estimated at 312,000 cubic meters, sufficient for safe and regulated waste management over approximately 25 years. The closure of the second containment area involves multiple steps. First, existing waste must be stabilized and covered with inert materials. Then, a layer ensuring sealing and drainage is applied. Finally, the site undergoes reclamation, including landscaping and installation of systems for collecting rainwater and leachate, as well as capturing landfill gas that will be transported via pipeline to a gas station in Sežica. Construction of the third containment area begins with terrain preparation, followed by the placement of a sealing membrane and the setup of water collection systems. The project includes reinforcing the base of the landfill, building embankments on both sides, constructing systems for draining leachate and stormwater, and managing gas emissions through connection to existing infrastructure. The location of the third containment area represents a logical extension of the current waste storage area on the existing landfill site. It does not encroach upon new areas or impose additional environmental burdens, as confirmed by the construction permit issued early this year. The new containment area is planned above the currently active landfill and previously closed ones. Infrastructure necessary for operating the landfill, including access roads, a new entrance platform, and administrative buildings, has already been constructed. The new containment area will be integrated into existing technological units in a rational and functional manner. The total value of the contracted works, excluding VAT, amounts to three million five hundred thousand euros. Of this, the Municipal Council of Jesenice, which holds a 70 percent stake in the landfill, will contribute two million four hundred thousand euros. The municipalities of Kranjska Gora and Žirovnica also participate as co-owners in the project. Mayor Peter Bohinec of Jesenice expressed satisfaction with the progress of the infrastructure project. He noted that the closure of the second containment area and the preparation of the third one are part of the investment plan, with the third set to open after the second is fully sealed in the following year. The new containment area will ensure more secure and organized handling of hazardous waste, contributing to the long-term sustainability of the region's waste management system.