Characteristics of waste management in the Republic of Croatia

Politike zaštite okoliša predstavljaju pokušaj rješavanja problema s kojima se danas planeta Zemlja suočava. Gospodarenje otpadom jedna je od politika zaštite okoliša kojom se nastoji riješiti problem sve veće pojave količina nastalog otpada. Otpad i neadekvatno zbrinjavanje otpada utječu na Planet Zemlju i cijelo stanovništvo svijeta. Nepravilno gospodarenje otpadom ima loše učinke na ljudsko zdravlje, dovodi do prostornog problema zbrinjavanja otpada koje posljedično ima utjecaj i na ekonomiju države. Ubrzani rast stanovništva, globalizacijski procesi ubrzali su nastanak otpada u svim dijelovima svijeta, pa tako i u Republici Hrvatskoj. Loše vođena politika gospodarenja otpadom predstavlja najveći problem Republike Hrvatske. Ulaskom u Europsku uniju, Republika Hrvatska pristala je na preuzimanje pravne stečevine politika zaštite okoliša i gospodarenja otpadom. Problem se očituje u loše vođenoj politici, lošoj usklađenosti zakonodavstva te kašnjenju s propisanim rokovima zadanih od strane Europske unije. Osim problema neusklađenosti zakonodavstva, Hrvatska nailazi na probleme s prostorom i manjkom adekvatne infrastrukture i sve većim rastom broja ilegalnih odlagališta. Republika Hrvatska, kako bi bila učinkovitija u području zaštite okoliša, mora poboljšati provođenje kružnog gospodarstva. Kružno gospodarstvo nudi mnogo perspektiva vezanih uz pravilno zbrinjavanje otpada. Otpad treba gledati kao resurs koji nudi nove mogućnosti u svijetu. Nove mogućnosti očituju se u otvaranju novih „zelenih“ radnih mjesta koja nude priliku zapošljavanja u sektoru zaštite okoliša, mogućnosti stvaranja prihoda od novostvorenih materijala od pravilno zbrinutog otpada te posljedično i zdravijeg i boljeg okoliša za sve sudionike. Ključ boljitku i smanjenju otpada u Republici Hrvatskoj predstavlja bolje iskorištavanje sredstava iz Europskih fondova u zadanim rokovima, kvalitetnija i učinkovitija ulaganja u infrastrukturu te puno truda i ulaganja u edukaciju građana.
Environmental policies are an attempt to solve the problems that the planet Earth is facing today. Waste management is one of the environmental protection policies that seeks to solve the problem of the growing occurrence of waste. Waste and inadequate waste disposal affect Planet Earth and the entire population of the world. Improper waste management has negative effects on human health, leading to the spatial problem of waste disposal, which consequently has an impact on the state's economy. Accelerated population growth and globalization processes have accelerated the generation of waste in all parts of the world, including the Republic of Croatia. Poorly managed waste management policy is the biggest problem of the Republic of Croatia. By joining the European Union, the Republic of Croatia has agreed to take over the acquis on environmental protection and waste management policies. The problem is manifested in poorly managed policies, poor harmonization of legislation and delays in the prescribed deadlines set by the European Union. In addition to the problem of inconsistencies in legislation, Croatia is facing problems with space and a lack of adequate infrastructure and a growing number of illegal landfills. In order to be more efficient in the field of environmental protection, the Republic of Croatia must improve the implementation of the circular economy. The circular economy offers many perspectives related to proper waste disposal. Waste should be seen as a resource that offers new opportunities in the world. New opportunities are manifested in the creation of new "green" jobs that offer employment opportunities in the environmental sector, opportunities to generate income from newly created materials from properly disposed waste and, consequently, a healthier and better environment for all participants. The key to improving and reducing waste in the Republic of Croatia is better use of European funds within the set deadlines, better and more efficient investments in infrastructure and a lot of effort and investment in educating citizens.