Planned removal of 55 m3 of waste from the cave Schaffeichloch near Koprivnik

Within C1 action, cleaning of cave Schaffeichloch (cave Škalova) near Koprivnik will be organized on April 2 and 3. According to currently available data and estimates, we expect that 55 m³ (± 10 m³) of waste will be removed from the cave: 22 m³ of small municipal waste, 11 m3 of bigger household appliances, 11 m³ vehicle residues and tractor tires, 6 m³ of construction waste and up to 5 m³ of carrion and animal body parts in bags. The actual quantities of waste removed will be measured later at the collection center.

Cleaning action will be carried out by members of Caving club Novo mesto. The technical difficulty of cleaning is estimated at level 5, because of abyss’ stepped structure. Waste is therefore located in separated levels and access is possible only with the use of rope technique.

The cleaning project, designed by dr. Mitja Prelovšek from the Karst Research Institute, besides detailed data on types of waste and the manner of their extraction, separation and their deposit, defines also measures in case of unforeseen events (e.g. life/health hazardous waste, human remains), general and specific hazards to which operators will be exposed when dropping into the interior of the abyss.