Geotechnical Faculty hosts waste management workshop in Croatia

The Geotechnical Faculty in Varaždin held the first of three free workshops aimed at educating citizens on waste management. The initiative seeks to provide clear, scientific facts to counter conflicting information and public concern regarding waste processing.

During the session, experts discussed the scale of waste production in Croatia, noting that in 2024, the country produced 486 kilograms of municipal waste, approximately 57 kilograms of food waste, and 10 kilograms of electrical waste per capita. Participants learned about the importance of leaching tests, which assess the potential for pollutants to release into water, and were informed that unpleasant odors are not necessarily the primary indicator of environmental danger.

Separately, discussions regarding waste management in Croatia have been highlighted by issues involving plastic waste and illegal landfilling in Gospić. Experts noted that Croatia has limited capacity for recycling various types of plastic, with much of it requiring energy recovery or landfilling. There are also ongoing questions regarding the regulation and legal disposal of imported industrial mixed plastics.