My good

habits -
separating waste
THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY FUND
AND ENERGY
Let’s acquire good habits! Waste management
Let’s reduce the quantity of waste, order of priority
let’s reuse items whenever possible,
let’s recycle the waste we generate,
because in this way we protect the
environment and save energy!
waste prevention
reuse
386 kg
average quantity of
waste that every citizen
produces in a year preparation for
reuse

recycling

energy
recovery

disposal

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 Waste prevention Reuse

Buy the products in Choose larger Repurpose Fix what’s broken

bulk packaging instead
of several smaller
ones

Use rechargeable Use canvas bags Renovate old Play and have fun
batteries furniture

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Separate the waste

Did you know that glass can be recycled endlessly, that for 1 tonne of paper you have to cut down
24 trees, and that from plastics you can make clothing, toys, and new packaging?

PAPER GLASS PLASTICS METAL

By recycling glass, we are saving By recycling metals we are saving the

Compared to the traditional
natural resources! By using one tonne
papermaking, recycling reduces water
of old glass we've saved
pollution by 35% and air pollution by
700 kg of sand, 200 kg of calcite, and
74%. A sheet of paper can be recycled
200 kg of sodium, and 30 tonnes of oil!
four to six times before it completely
Glass can be recycled and reused
disintegrates.
endlessly!
By recycling plastics we are preserving
ore as a valuable natural raw material, and
and protecting natural raw materials (oil,
Reducing the quantity of landfilled waste,
natural gas) that are used in its
thus preserving the environment.
manufacturing, so we are helping protect
Aluminium and steel do not lose their
the environment.
characteristic properties. Regardless of
how many times they are recycled, they
keep their robustness and durability.

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 Waste packaging in the Composting
deposit-return system As much as 35% of total
household waste is
Do you know that for beverage packaging comprised of organic
Bio-waste is
over 0.2 litres (except dairy and dairy Composting is the
waste biodegradable waste
from gardens or parks,
products packaging) you can get a 50 lipa best method of
handling bio-waste
and food and kitchen
waste from households,
deposit fee refund? You can take back such restaurants, etc.
packaging to any grocery shop with the
surface area larger than 200m2.

separate bio-waste

Compost can replenish

the nutrients in any soil

turn into
compost
enrich t h e s o il and fe r t ili se t h e pla n ts

As an addition to the A composter can be made

soil, it provides the from wooden boards, or
plastic beverage glass beverage metal beverage
plants with growth- you can buy a
packaging, except for packaging packaging – tin cans
promoting nutrients, it Microorganisms break compost bin for
dairy and dairy aerates the soil, retains down biologically smaller quantities of
products moisture, and creates easily degradable types bio-waste
the conditions for the of waste (bio-waste),
living organisms in the and in just a few
soil months turn it into
quality compost

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What is compost? How to compost?
You can compost in your own garden, jointly (e.g. in one community), or in large
Composting is the process of biological composting facilities where separately collected bio-waste is disposed of.

decomposition of the organic fraction of waste

happening all around us.
Compost is a product of biological
decomposition and is used as soil amendment

What to compost? What NOT to compost? 1. Wooden composter 2. Wire compost bin

Fruit and vegetable rind, eggshells,
lettuce leaves, potato peels, leaves,
dry twigs, wilted flowers, dropped fruit,
coffee grounds, teabags, sawdust, wood
bark, straw...
Cooked and liquid food leftovers, meat and
fish, ash, newspaper and colour magazines,
oil, fat, stained and varnished wood material,
dairy products, preparations…

Composting step-by-step 3. Compost pile 4. Plastic compost bin

> Put some non-shredded twigs on the bottom of the composter to provide aeration, top with
some leaves, hay, and shredded wood material such as sawdust;
> Cover with a thin layer of soil or compost;
> On the prepared base put kitchen waste suitable for composting and turn from time to
Composting tips & tricks
time;
The most important for successful composting is to ensure there are plenty of
> The compost pile should be protected from the Sun, wind, and rain with
different types of bio-waste, constant and sufficient moisture levels, sufficient
a lid or some other type of covering.
air flow, and adequate temperature.

How long until the finished compost?
> Composting processes take from 6 to 12 months. With this compost we can
enrich the soil in the garden, orchard, vineyard, lawn, or revive the flowers in
the flower pots.
> All materials have to be shredded to 5 cm fragments to make it easier for the
microorganisms.
> Green plant material has to wilt before being composted.
> The compost should not be too wet, so from time to time you should add dry
material such as straw or sawdust.
> The bottom of the composter should be in direct contact with the ground, except
in the case of home compost bins where holes are drilled in the bottom.

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 Bulky waste
Damaged items can be renovated,
repaired, upgraded, or reused, or
given to those in need
Dispose of it free of charge in
special containers that are
provided by your utility company
My good habits
Take it to a reuse centre where it
will be restored and made fit for
further use
Bulky waste transport can be
arranged in line with the set
conditions
Batteries and accumulators
Dispose of them free of charge at
the civic amenity site (recycling
yard)
They can be handed over free of
charge to the repair shop when you
take any devices containing
replaceable battery or accumulator
to be fixed
You can hand them over free of
charge in any shop selling
batteries and accumulators. Used
batteries can be dropped in
battery bins found in many
retailers
COLLECTOR
You can hand them over free of
charge to the collector who has
concluded a contract with the
Environmental Protection and
Energy Efficiency Fund (the list of
collectors is available at
www.fzoeu.hr)
My good habits
 End-of-life vehicles Waste tyres

COLLECTOR

1. An end-of-life vehicle is handed over to a licensed collector 1. You can dispose of them free 2. Tyres can be handed over free of charge
2. (the list of collectors and instructions on how to dispose of the vehicle are available of charge at the civic amenity at the tyre fitting service when you
atwww.fzoeu.hr) site (recycling yard) replace them

LICENSED
COLLECTOR

When taking back an integral

vehicle with all components
1 1 (the bodywork and engine are 3. You can hand them over free of
mandatory), the collector pays
kn kg the fee of 1 kn per kilo of
charge to a licensed collector (the list
is available at www.fzoeu.hr)
vehicle.

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 EE waste
What to do with electrical and
electronic equipment we no
longer need?
Let’s make sure to dispose of old
electrical and electronic equipment in
one of the following four proper ways:

Licensed
25 cm

EE waste
collector

1. 2. 3. 4.
Appliances up to 25 cm in size can
Larger old home appliances can be Can be taken free of charge Free transport can be arranged
be dropped off free of charge at the
handed over at the shops when you to the civic amenity with a licensed collector (the
store bearing the sign “EE waste take-
buy new appliances. site (recycling yard. list of collectors available at
back” with no obligation to purchase.
www.fzoeu.hr).

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 EE equipment retailer whose store is larger
than 400 m2 has the obligation to inform the
citizens about the EE equipment take-back
scheme.
Textile waste
The majority of textile waste comes from
households, however textile waste is also generated
in the factory manufacturing of filaments and
clothing. Both have a significant potential for reuse
or recycling.
The recycling of clothing, footwear, and other
textiles is simpler and accessible as textile containers
can be found at the shops. Textile waste can now be
dropped off at any textile-selling shop with the
surface area larger than 400 m2.

How to
Electrical and electronic (EE) waste comprises discarded electrical and You can take the textile
electronic equipment and appliances using electricity. By properly recycle and footwear that can Do not put
disposing of EE waste, we are safeguarding our health, we are enabling
textile? still be used to reuse wet or mouldy
the reuse of precious metals and plastics required for the production of centres clothing or
new appliances. footwear in
Step 2 the container.
Step 1 Textile has to be
Clothing, footwear, put in the
and other textile . designated
items that are no containers at
longer fit for use the nearest
have to be bring bank
You can drop off The repair service has the EE appliances bear separated for (“green island”)
lightbulbs at any obligation to take back free this sign.
shop that sells them, of charge on its premises recycling and put or taken to the
regardless of its size. any EE equipment for which into a plastic bin civic amenity
it has established that it
either cannot be repaired or bag, which has to site
the repair is not
be closed
commercially viable.

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 Reuse centres
What can be reused at the centres?

Reuse and waste prevention measures are

at the forefront of the waste management
order of priority.

Reuse centres are places where items can be reused are collected and prepared
for further distribution.
Reuse centres primarily collect the items that are in good condition and Textile, clothing and Furniture Consumer goods Plates,
which can be efficiently prepared for further use with cleaning and minor footwear Wardrobes, beds, cutlery and dishes,
repairs, to preserve their original purpose of use. All types of textile, mattresses, tables and books, toys, sports
clothing and footwear. chairs... equipment, bicycles,
children’s equipment,
pushchairs, artwork,
How are items collected at reuse decorative items...
centres?
Why reuse?
Reuse of products or waste has positive impacts on the environment
(prevention of pollution of waters, soil and air), saves raw material, and energy.

1. . 2. 3. 4. By reusing 1 tonne of textile we save 5053 kg of

By way of the The citizens By way of By organising
CO2, while by recycling we save only 259 kg of
centre’s mobile bring the stuff containers for actions in
certain areas.
CO2.
service, which they no longer individual
collects larger need directly to types of items in .
items directly the centre. controlled
The reuse sector is opening new jobs and it could contribute to a significant share in
from your home. conditions (e.g.
the employment strategy in the waste management sector.
the containers
for toys in
kindergartens).

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Fun for the youngest:
Let’s learn how to separate
1. Find out about the containers in your town, and the location of the 2. Connect with a line paper, plastics, glass and metal to the appropriate container and
recycling yard nearest to where you live. paint the container with the right colour, or write what type of waste it holds.

The nearest recycling yard is located in:

PAPER GLASS PLASTICS METAL

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This is what an average waste bin looks like.
Let’s change this!

23.2% paper and

cardboard

35.0% kitchen
waste

plastics
22.9%

3.7% glass
3.7% textile
2.1% metal
5.7% garden waste
7.8% other

Source: HAOP