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★Mark us as a preferred sourceFollowing the hazardous waste scandal in the Lika region, a critical issue has resurfaced: the situation of waste incinerators in Croatia is entirely unique within the European Union. While over 500 such facilities operate across Europe, Croatia lacks a single modern energy plant for thermal waste treatment, even as landfill capacities continue to dwindle rapidly.
The waste incinerators in Croatia issue has reached a critical juncture, particularly after the recent scandal involving improperly disposed hazardous waste in Gospić. This specific event has brought the country’s immense waste management challenges to the forefront, leaving authorities with fewer and fewer options for disposal.
Waste incinerators in Croatia: An ongoing European contrast
European regulations increasingly mandate the reduction of landfilled waste in favor of alternative, modern treatments. Despite these directives, Croatia remains the only EU Member State without a functional, proper waste incinerator. (Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar noted that Malta also lacks one but is currently in the active process of building them). Meanwhile, the rest of Europe—including non-EU countries like Switzerland, Norway, and the UK—operates more than 500 waste incineration plants.
Ironically, while the internal situation is dire, Croatian companies are actively and successfully involved in building thermal treatment facilities abroad. Domestic companies are currently working on energy plants in Iceland, Belgium, Scotland, and Germany.
Environmental concerns and ministerial perspectives
Energy plants burn waste to generate valuable electricity and heating. While they are not meant to replace robust recycling efforts, they provide a necessary solution for the remaining residual waste. However, the construction of these facilities in Croatia has faced years of fierce public opposition. Citizens and environmental groups frequently cite concerns over harmful emissions, potential health impacts, and the safe disposal of post-incineration residues (slag).
Minister of Environmental Protection Marija Vučković firmly believes that national waste management targets cannot be met without these energy plants. She stated that if a thorough environmental impact assessment proves acceptable, permit conditions are strictly controlled, and a functional supervision system is guaranteed, there is no valid reason to oppose having an energy plant in one’s neighborhood.
Systemic flaws and political opposition
Nikola Grmoja, a representative from the Most party, argues that the core issue lies not in the incineration model itself, but rather in a deeply flawed national control system. He questioned how the public could possibly trust a thermal plant when hazardous waste was recently imported and illegally dumped without regulatory detection. He expressed deep concerns about the lack of oversight regarding what exactly would be burned and how the toxic by-products would be handled, and further questioned how the push for incineration aligns with the European Commission’s strict waste separation goals.
Interest from Zagreb and other municipalities
Despite significant public resistance, similar to international regulatory discussions surrounding waste management, several progressive Croatian cities have shown concrete interest in developing energy plants, including Šibenik, Osijek, and Rijeka.
Zagreb is also actively considering the thermal treatment option. A detailed feasibility study conducted for the capital back in 2024 demonstrated that such facilities are financially viable. Matej Mišić, President of the Zagreb City Assembly, confirmed that the city SDP continues to advocate strongly for a plant designed to burn refuse-derived fuel (RDF) to generate thermal energy. The City Assembly had already adopted a formal conclusion in 2024 to begin preparing the necessary documentation, though the physical project has not yet materialized.
FAQ
Why is the situation of waste incinerators in Croatia unique?
Croatia is currently the only European Union Member State without a functioning, modern waste incineration plant, whereas over 500 similar facilities operate across the rest of Europe.
What solutions would energy plants provide in Croatia?
These thermal facilities process residual waste that would otherwise go to landfills, using the incineration process to generate usable electricity and thermal heating for the local infrastructure.
Which Croatian cities are planning to build incinerators?
Cities like Šibenik, Osijek, Rijeka, and the capital, Zagreb, have all shown interest. Zagreb even completed a feasibility study for a waste-to-energy plant in 2024.
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