Sustainable Municipal Waste Management in the Republic of Croatia

U ovom radu na primjeru Republike Hrvatske istražena je problematika gospodarenja komunalnim otpadom, kao jednog od najznačajnijih tokova otpada današnjice. U radu su posebno obrađeni uzroci i posljedice njegova nastanka te sukladno tome dan je osvrt na suvremene pristupe i načela održivog i učinkovitog gospodarenja komunalnim otpadom. Nakon pregleda relevantnog strateškog i institucionalnog okvira, izvršena je analiza stanja i trendova u okviru sustava gospodarenja komunalnim otpadom u Republici Hrvatskoj. Rezultati analize ukazali su na nepovoljne trendove i to posebno u pogledu odlaganja i recikliranja otpada te nedovoljnog razvoja potrebne infrastrukture. Na osnovu toga, na kraju rada predložene su opće smjernice za rješavanje ključnih problema gospodarenja komunalnim otpadom u Republici Hrvatskoj.In this paper on the example of the Republic of Croatia, the problems of municipal waste management have been explored, as one of the most important waste streams of today. This paper deals with the causes and consequences of its emergence, and in this context it reviews the contemporary approaches and principles of sustainable and efficient municipal waste management. After reviewing the relevant strategic and institutional framework, an analysis of the state and trends within the municipal waste management system in the Republic of Croatia was carried out. The results of the analysis have shown unfavorable trends, particularly with regard to waste disposal and recycling and insufficient development of the necessary infrastructure. Based on that, at the end of the work, general guidelines for solving key problems of municipal waste management in the Republic of Croatia have been proposed