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Law on waste management.

Country
Type of law
Legislation
Source

Abstract
This Law prescribes general measures for the purpose of protecting the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the generation of waste, reducing the negative effects of waste generation and waste management, reducing the overall effects of the use of raw materials and improving the efficiency of the use of raw materials and increasing the recycling and reuse of recycled materials, which is necessary for the transition to a circular economy and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the Republic of Croatia and the European Union. This Law further regulates the waste management system, including the priority order of waste management, principles, goals and methods of waste management, planning documents in waste management, responsibilities and obligations in waste management, locations and buildings for waste management, waste management activities, cross-border waste transport, waste management information system and administrative and inspection supervision over waste management. This Law prescribes measures, in particular the conditions for the operation of landfills and the requirements for waste that is allowed to be disposed, in order to prevent or reduce as much as possible all known harmful effects on the environment, especially pollution of surface water, underground water, soil and air, including the greenhouse effects, as well as all hazards to human health due to waste disposal during the entire lifetime of the landfill, with the aim of establishing a circular economy and ensuring the application of the priority order of waste management, disposing of waste that has not been recovered in a way that does not endanger human health and does not harm the environment, and ensuring the gradual reduction of waste disposal, especially waste that is suitable for recycling or other recovery procedures. This text prescribes measures for the purpose of preventing and reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, especially the aquatic environment, and on human health, as well as promoting the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials, also contributing to efficient functioning of internal market. This Law prescribes measures to prevent the production of packaging waste and encourages the reuse of packaging, recycling and other forms of recovery of packaging waste and the reduction of quantities of final disposal of such waste as a contribution to the circular economy; measures for the purpose of achieving the goals of the European Green Deal ("The European Green Deal"), in the transformation into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy in which there will be no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and in which economic growth is not related to the use of resources. The goals of waste management are prescribed in order to encourage the transition to an economy that is more circular and in which the value of products, materials and resources is retained as long as possible, and the creation of waste is reduced to the smallest possible extent. In order to contribute to the circular economy of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia should achieve specific waste management related goals as listed in article 54. Waste management must be carried out in a way that does not endanger people's health and does not cause a harmful impact on the environment, and in particular: 1. does not cause the risk of pollution of the sea, water, soil and air and endangering biological diversity; 2. does not cause discomfort due to noise and unpleasant odors; 3. does not cause a harmful impact on the landscape or places of special interest; 4. does not cause explosions or fire. Avoiding the risk of pollution of the sea, water, soil and air as well as endangering biological diversity, as a consequence of waste management, is achieved through the implementation of regulations governing spatial planning, construction, environmental protection, nature protection, water protection and protection of the sea from pollution from maritime facilities. The provisions of this text do not apply to certain sectors such as waste water; by-products of animal origin, including processed products (see full list of exemptions in article 3 entitled Areas of application of the Law ).
This Law incorporates several acts of the European Union into the national legislation (see article 2-paragraph 1 for complete list); this Law further ensures the implementation of the following acts of the European Union: Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste; and Regulation (EC) No. 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics.
This text is divided into eighteen main thematic Chapters, and a total of 192 articles. Titles of Chapters are as follows: I. General provisions; II. Authorities for waste management; III. Prevention of waste generation; IV. Obligations of waste producers and waste owner; V. Execution of waste management activities; VI. Waste from the mining industry; VII. Objectives of waste management; VIII. Public municipal waste collection service; IX. Special categories of waste; X. Extended responsibility of the product manufacturer; XI. Economic instruments of waste management; XII. Planning documents in waste management; XIII. Cross-border traffic of waste; XIV. Waste management information system; XV. Administrative control; XVI. Inspection supervision; XVII. Penalty provisions; and XVIII. Transitional and final provisions. Attachment that are part of this Law are here listed as follows: 1. Annex I. List of waste disposal procedures; 2. Annex II. List of waste recovery procedures; 3. Annex III. Incomplete lists of single-use plastic products; 4. Annex IV. Calculation of the price for the amount of delivered mixed municipal waste; 5. Annex V. Expressions for calculation of fees; 6. Annex VI. Content of waste management plans.
Date of text
Entry into force notes
This text entered into force eight days after its publication in the Official Gazette (published on 23 July 2021), except for article 101 and Appendix V (point 2) which shall enter into force on 16 September 2021; article 17 (paragraph 2) which enters into force on 1 January 2022; article 17 (paragraph 3) which shall enter into force on 3 July 2024.
Repealed
No
Publication reference
Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia 84/2021
Source language

English

Legislation Amendment
No
Original title
Zakon o gospodarenju otpadom.
Repeals