13. International Environmental Protection Conference

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2026: STRATEGY, CITIES AND PRACTICE

14:30–15:30

Participant registration

15:30

CONFERENCE OPENING

Luka Balen, Director, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Waste, Resources, and Material Security by 2030

Panel discussion: What Really Works in Cities?

Participants: Mirko Budiša, Deputy Director, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund; Davor Vić, Head of Čistoća Zagreb, Zagrebački holding; Novica Ljubičić, Zeleni grad, Šibenik; Robi Fuart, Herculanea, Pula

🍽 17:15 Welcome cocktail on the terrace of Hotel Parentium

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026: INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGIES, AND ENERGY

9:30

KEYNOTE CASE STUDY: Transformation of a European City through the Circular Economy

Matjaž Berčon, Director, Komunala Kranj d. o. o.

SESSION 1: WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTERS

9:50–11:10

CASE STUDY PRESENTATIONS

Zagreb Waste Management Center – Concept and Next Steps

Ana Pavičić Kaselj, Director, Zagreb Waste Management Center

Piškornica Regional Waste Management Center – Implementation and Operational Challenges

Ivan Puđa, KOSTAK d.o.o.

Babina Gora Waste Management Center – Commissioning Challenges and Preparation for Operations

Marija Tufeković, Director, KODOS Waste Management Center

Panel: Operational Reality of Waste Management Centers: Planning, Procurement, Commissioning

Participants: Maja Feketić, Head of the EU Funds Sector, Fond za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost, Kristian Gašparini, CEO, Ekoplus; Marija Tufeković, Director, KODOS Waste Management Center; Ana Pavičić Kaselj, Director, Zagreb Waste Management Center; Mladen Ružman, Director, RCGO Piškornica

Panel moderator: Josip Grgić, President of the Board of RCGO Šagulje d.o.o.

SESSION 2: WASTE-TO-ENERGY (WtE)

11:10–12:45

PRESENTATIONS

WtE – Status Quo and System Development

Assoc. Prof. Renato Šarc, Montanuniversität Leoben

From Concept to Implementation

Dr. sc. Bernhard Kronberger, Senior Process Technology Expert, CONENGA Group

Health and Environmental Risk Management in Modern WtE Facilities

Assoc. Prof. Luka Traven, B.Sc. Eng., Department of Health Ecology, Faculty of Medicine

Waste That Disappears: How Industry Converts Waste into Energy Without Residue

Mihaela Gortan Vozila, Head of Business Operations for Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials, Holcim Croatia

Panel discussion: Implementing WtE Systems - Barriers, Opportunities and Lessons Learned

🍽12: 45 Lunch & Networking

SESSION 3: TECHNOLOGIES IN WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES

14:00 - 15:45

INNOVATION BLOCK

Measuring and Improving Machine and Plant Performance

Patrick Lackner, IUT Ingenieurgemeinschaft Innovative Umwelttechnik GmbH

From Concept to Results: Accelerating Recycling

Manuela Hayes, International Sales Engineer, Entsorgungstechnik BAVARIA GmbH

Smart Sensors for Safer and More Efficient Operations

Gregor Halozan, Expert for Technical Projects and Industrial Solutions, SAMSORIC

Smart Sorting and Recycling: Technologies That Deliver Results

Urban Kozinc, CEO, XORTION Engineering GmbH; Ivana Buble Kozinc, Project Manager and Designer, XORTIMAX d.o.o., Slovenija

Panel discussion: How to Improve System Efficiency, Plant Performance, and Safety?

🍽15:45 - 16:15 Coffee Break

SESSION 4: CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN PRACTICE

16:15 - 18:00

PRESENTATION

Co-financing in the Waste Management Sector

Aleksandra Čilić, Head of the Environmental Protection Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Packaging Waste – New Obligations and Practices

Zvonimir Majić, Head of the Waste Management Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Financing the Circular Economy: Investment Sustainability, PPP Models and Bankable Projects

Igor Tadić, Head of Design Department, HIDROING d.o.o.

Between Circular Economy and Landfill Dependency: Waste Analysis in Croatia

Prof. Aleksandra Anić Vučinić, Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, Zagreb

New Regulatory Framework in Waste Management: Pricing, Responsibilities and System Sustainability

Sonja Polonijo, Senior Expert Associate, Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia

Panel discussion: Circular Economy in Practice - Who Closes the Loop?

Participants: Zvonimir Majić, Head of the Waste Management Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund; Dijana Zrinski, Executive Vice President and General Manager, EcoCortec; Sonja Polonijo, Senior Expert Associate, Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia

Panel moderator: Aleksandra Anić Vučinić, Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb

🍽
Dinner & Party

FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026: BIOWASTE, STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATION

10:00–13:00

PRESENTATION

Beyond Sorting: What Comes Next in Waste Processing?

Urban Kozinc, CEO, XORTION Engineering GmbH

SESSION 5: KOMPOSTIRANJE I BIOOTPAD

CASE STUDY

Bioeconomy Strategy until 2035

Representative of the Ministry of Agriculture

PRESENTATION

From Biowaste to Resources: Key Steps for Advancing Composting in Croatia by 2035

Prof. Neven Voća, PhD, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Department of Sustainable Technologies and Renewable Energy

Panel discussion: Biowaste in Croatia - Between Regulation, Operational Challenges and Energy Potential

SESSION 5: WASTE, PERCEPTION AND TRUST - HOW TO COMMUNICATE CHANGES NO ONE WANTS

PREDAVANJE

From Remediation to Sensation: Between Experts, Media, and the Public

Lidija Tošić, Head of the Public Relations Department, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

PREDAVANJE

Waste Management Center Biljane Donje: From Strategic Dialogue to Operational Excellence

Ljiljana Jurjević, Head of the Independent Unit for System Improvement, Eko d.o.o.

PREDAVANJE

ReBus: A Station Where Waste Doesn’t End but Begins Again

Robi Fuart, Director, Pula Herculanea; Marina Perkov Svilan, PR, Pula Herculanea

Panel discussion: Education and media

Participants: Ljiljana Jurjević, Head of the Independent Unit for System Improvement, Eko d.o.o., Robi Fuart, Director, Pula Herculanea

Prijavite se

SPEAKERS

Renato Šarc

Associate Professor, PhD
Deputy Head of the Department of Waste Recovery Technologies and Waste Management, Montanuniversität Leoben

Expert in waste management with more than 50 scientific and over 100 professional publications. Focused on projects in sustainable waste management, modernization of existing infrastructure, and implementation of new technologies for mechanical, biological, and energy recovery of waste.

Luka Balen

Director, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Oversees the Fund’s financial and strategic activities, supervises environmental protection and energy efficiency projects, and promotes sustainable and green transition initiatives.

Mirko Budiša

Deputy Director, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

With over 25 years of experience in waste management and sustainable development projects in the private and public sectors, supervises the preparation and implementation of strategic projects.

Lidija Tošić

Head of the Public Relations Department, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Expert in PR and communications with a focus on green transition, waste management, and sustainable resource management, connecting institutions, media, and citizens in key environmental initiatives.

Aleksandra Čilić

Head of the Environmental Protection Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy

Head of the Environmental Protection Sector at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund with experience in managing and developing environmental projects.

Ljiljana Jurjević

Head of the Independent Unit for System Improvement, Eko d.o.o.

Head of the independent working unit System Improvement at Eko d.o.o., she leads waste management projects, including the development of the Biljana Donja Center.

Maja Feketić

Head of the EU Funds Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Expert in financing and implementing projects supported by European funds, with experience in co-financing programs and assisting beneficiaries in environmental protection and energy efficiency.

Zvonimir Majić

Head of the Waste Management Sector, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Specialist in organizing and improving waste management systems, including policies and methodologies for handling specific waste categories and promoting recycling initiatives.

Gregor Halozan

Technical Projects and Industrial Solutions Expert, SAMSORIC

Expert in technical projects and industrial solutions with over 10 years of international experience. At SAMSORIC, he leads complex projects from concept to implementation, with a focus on process optimization and the application of modern technologies.

Ivana Buble Kozinc

Kozinc MSc, Project Manager, XORTIMAX d.o.o., Slovenia

Expert in technological solutions for municipal waste treatment, with experience in project management and MBO plant design. Active in the sector since 2014, with a focus on operational waste treatment processes and the development of infrastructure projects.

Kristian Gašparini

President of the Management Board, Ekoplus d.o.o. (RCGO Marišćina)

President of the Management Board of Ekoplus and Head of RCGO Marišćina, one of the key waste management projects in Croatia. Specialized in operational system optimization and the implementation of sustainable waste management models.

Manuela Hayes

International Sales Engineer, Entsorgungstechnik BAVARIA GmbH

International sales engineer with more than 20 years of experience in recycling technologies. Specialized in advanced waste sorting systems and the implementation of solutions across European markets.

Marija Tufeković

Director, CGO KODOS d.o.o.

Director of CGO KODOS with experience in managing EU-funded projects and developing waste management systems. Focused on infrastructure modernization and the implementation of sustainable solutions at the regional level.

Patrick Lackner

Project Manager, Consultant for Mechanical Waste Treatment, IUT Ingenieurgemeinschaft Innovative Umwelttechnik GmbH

Expert in mechanical waste treatment and plant design. Involved in the development, implementation, and optimization of systems, from feasibility studies to plant commissioning.

Sonja Polonijo

Senior Expert Associate
Association of Cities in the Republic of Croatia

Expert in economically sustainable circular waste management. Focused on challenges in public services and adapting legislation for an easier transition to a circular economy, with an emphasis on the role of the state as a moderator.

Luka Traven

Assoc. prof. Luka Traven, B.Sc. Eng., Department of Health Ecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka

Expert in environmental health with experience in environmental risk assessment. Focused on managing complex waste management systems and energy recovery from waste, with an emphasis on regulatory requirements and the application of new technologies.

Davor Vić

MSc in Civil Engineering, Branch Manager, Čistoća, Zagreb Holding

Expert in infrastructure projects in the municipal sector. Focused on the development and operational efficiency of the future Zagreb Waste Management Center, with an emphasis on achieving European targets and implementing new financial models.

Ana Pavičić Kaselj

MSc in Economics, Zagreb Waste Management Center

Expert in EU projects and cost-benefit analysis, with experience in projects financed by the European Commission and the World Bank. Lecturer at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, specialized in sustainable development and environmental protection.

Bernhard Kronberger

PhD, Senior Process Technology Expert
CONENGA Group

Expert in process engineering with extensive international experience in optimizing industrial processes and energy systems. Focused on energy efficiency, waste valorization, and the application of advanced technologies in industry.

Urban Kozinc

Founder and Director
XORTION Engineering GmbH

Experienced expert with more than 20 years of international experience in recycling and waste management. Develops and implements advanced engineering and consulting solutions, with a focus on process optimization and sustainable resource management.

Igor Tadić

Head of Design Department
HIDROING d.o.o.

Head of design at HIDROING with extensive experience in developing infrastructure projects financed by EU funds. Participated in projects worth over one billion euros, with a focus on waste management centers (CGO systems) and financial models for large-scale projects.

Mladen Ružman

Director
RCGO Piškornica

Director of the Piškornica Regional Waste Management Center since 2017. Responsible for the development and management of the center, as well as coordinating key stakeholders in its implementation.

Novica Ljubičić

Director
Zeleni grad Šibenik

Director of the municipal company Zeleni grad Šibenik and President of the Municipal Economy Association and Waste Management Group at the Croatian Chamber of Economy.

Robi Fuart

Director
Pula Herculanea d.o.o.

Graduate engineer and Director of the municipal company Pula Herculanea. Focused on improving the efficiency of waste management systems, modernizing operations, and developing sustainable solutions at the local level.

Dijana Zrinski

Executive Vice President and General Manager, EcoCortec

With over 10 years of experience in leading strategic initiatives and operations, focused on business growth, process optimization, and the implementation of innovative, sustainable solutions in green technologies.

Aleksandra Anić Vučinić

Prof. Dr., Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, Zagreb

Expert in waste management, with a focus on the circular economy and special waste streams. Holds a PhD from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology and a degree from the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology.

Mihaela Gortan Vozila

Head of Business Operations for Alternative Fuels and Raw Materials, Holcim (Croatia)

Graduate engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the cement industry, across procurement, sales, and the development of innovative solutions and services. Responsible for the segment of alternative fuels and raw materials recovery.

Matjaž Berčon

Director, Komunala Kranj d. o. o.

Director of Komunala Kranj, one of the leading municipal companies in Slovenia. In cooperation with the City of Kranj, he drives digitalization and process improvements focused on circular economy, sustainability, and green transition.

Prof. Neven Voća, PhD

Institute for Sustainable Technologies and Renewable Energy, Faculty of Agriculture

Full Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, where he has been working since 1999. His work focuses on waste management, circular economy, and renewable energy, and he is the author of around 200 publications. Since 2024, he has been the Head of the Department of Sustainable Technologies and Renewable Energy.

Josip Grgić

CEO of RCGO Šagulje d.o.o.

Responsible for the preparation and implementation of the Circular Waste Management Project in the Brod-Posavina, Požega-Slavonia, Sisak-Moslavina, and Virovitica-Podravina counties, as well as coordinating activities related to planning and applying circular waste management at the regional, state, and local levels.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

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