Croatia expands deposit‑return scheme to cover Tetrapak and sub‑2 dl bottles from 2027

Effective 1 January 2027 Croatia will enlarge its deposit‑return system, adding multi‑layer cardboard cartons (commonly known as Tetrapak) and all beverage bottles smaller than two decilitres. Each qualifying product will carry an extra 10 cent deposit, which will be reflected in a modest price increase for consumers.

The change is intended to help the country meet EU recycling targets – at least 65 % of packaging waste by 2025 and 70 % by 2030 – and could raise the volume of items subject to the scheme by up to 400 million units a year. Industry representatives warn that collection infrastructure is not yet equipped for Tetrapak, noting that retailers would have to gather the cartons manually, raising hygiene and cost concerns. “What is important for consumers is that, if these products enter the deposit system, the price will increase by the amount of the deposit,” said Dragica Bagarić, director of waste‑management firm Eko Ozra. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change stresses that the regulation was adopted in 2023, giving ample time for preparation, and that retailers will receive handling fees for the additional work.