From Landfills to Composting: Challenges of Transforming Biodegradable Waste Management in Croatia

Ofak, Lana and Grubešić Črnelč, Valentina (2025) From Landfills to Composting: Challenges of Transforming Biodegradable Waste Management in Croatia. AGRÁR- ÉS KÖRNYEZETJOG / JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, 20 (39). pp. 105-134. ISSN 3058-0447

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Abstract

As the youngest member of the European Union, Croatia has made considerable efforts to align its biodegradable-waste-management practices with EU legislation. This paper examines the development of Croatia’s legal and strategic framework from early national initiatives to the Waste Management Plan of 2023–2028. Despite legislative advancements, Croatia struggles with the implementation of waste management. Key issues include delays in adopting regulations and waste-management plans and insufficient infrastructure for composting and anaerobic digestion. The paper also explores successful practices, including public-awareness campaigns and financial incentives, which have contributed to improvements in separate bio-waste collection. Additionally, the paper addresses risks such as seasonal peaks in waste generation in tourist regions, public resistance to new facilities, and the accumulation of unsold compost. Recent policy measures, including the introduction of a landfill fee in 2025 and the anticipated Ordinance on HR fertilising products, are evaluated for their potential to improve outcomes. By analysing Croatia’s progress and setbacks, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable waste management in EU Member States and offers practical insights for policymakers and researchers to enhance biodegradable-waste-manage- ment systems in line with circular-economy principles.

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