Content (Syllabus outline)

Types of biogenic waste; how they are generated; plant and animal residues in agriculture; recycling in settlements; quantities in Slovenia, physical and chemical properties. Criteria of the EU "End of Waste" Directive. Sewage sludge, livestock manure, fermentation residues, etc. Anaerobic digestion, production of biogas and use of digestate. Composting: biological principles, technological requirements; dynamics of decomposition, existing technological processes, methods for determining compost maturity, quality parameters for the use of compost in agriculture and horticulture. Vermicomposting. Physical, chemical and biological methods for assessing the fertilizer value of processed biogenic waste: composts, digestates, fermentation residues. Obtaining the product status. Production of marketable organic fertilizers. Compost and other materials as components of the growing medium (compost as a substitute for peat). Pyrolysis, HTC and production of biochar or hydrochar. Soil improvers. Model examples for comprehensive planning of biogenic waste utilization technology (concept plan of a biogas plant or composting plant). Standards and legislation. Material and energy balances of the individual treatment processes. Basic indicators for the sustainability of processing biogenic waste into fertilizers or soil improvers. Management of biogenic waste in the circular system of the bioeconomy.

Prerequisites

The course has to be defined as a study obligation in the student's curriculum of compulsory or elective courses.