The Croatian Waste Management Strategy (WMS), adopted in 2005, and draft National Waste Management Plan, presented in Apr 2007, propose to establish Waste Management Centers (WMCs) which will be responsible for development and financing of waste management facilities for larger groups of municipalities, on a county or even wider regional level.
Several important factors have been noticed as the key factors for successful implementation of complex WM projects, like regional approach and cooperation of several towns/municipalities and integrated approach to WM, including separate collection, recycling and land filling, as well as energy-recovery. Improvement of communal WM services resulted in establishment of two public institutions in continental parts of Croatia: Public institution for disposal of municipal and non-hazardous industrial waste of NW Croatia (JUSZH) and Public institution for managing of municipal waste of Eastern Slavonia (ZOIS).
Considering the challenges in establishment of regional waste management centres (RWMCs) in Croatia, REC considered stronger public promotion of associating towns/municipalities, especially related to strengthening of public sector and cooperation of local authorities in solving the basic needs of citizens, that have to be fulfilled in the EU membership. Project proposal "Support to the Establishment of WM Centers in NW Croatia and Eastern Slavonia" was was awarded grant from the Ministry of Foregin Affairs Norway.

Project Aim and Objectives
The main project aim is to reduce the pollution of the environment resulting from improper management (or lack of management) of waste streams in two Croatian regions, North West Croatia and Eastern Slavonia, and through addressing is to improve the quality of life of citizens of both regions.

• To strengthen regional public institutions in NW Croatia and Eastern Slavonia that will be able to establish and manage regional waste management centers,
• To raise public awareness on regional waste management centers;
• To promote regional approach to waste management in Croatia.

Project duration: 18 months (Jan 2007 - June 2008)
Donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

Beneficiaries

• Public institution for disposal of municipal and non-hazardous industrial waste of NW Croatia (JUSZH),
• Public institution for managing of municipal waste of Eastern Slavonia (ZOIS),
• Governmental bodies and institutions,
• Representatives of local authorities,
• Local waste collection companies,
• NGOs,
• Citizens concerned with the environmental issues, business sector.

Main Project Activities
1. Preparatory Activities

• Introduction of the projects to the two regional public institutions that will operate RWMCs.
• Identification of stakeholders, and their roles. Development of database of contacts.
• Meetings to introduce the project to all municipalities in both regions.
• Background research regarding current relevant waste sector projects and programs.
• Networking and experience sharing with main actors from these projects and programs.
• Background research on existing studies/plans/ strategies for RWMCs in both regions.

2. Technical Activities

• Assessment of Functioning of the Public Institutions and future Centers from Legal and Institutional Point of View
• Social Survey - in order to reveal the familiarity of general public with the concepts of RWMCs, the satisfaction with the quality of current waste management services, and needs for improvements, and the affordability and acceptability of increased waste charges.
• Identification and Assessment of specific Investment Needs (energy recovery of waste in NW Croatia and mechanical-biological treatment in Eastern Slavonia)
• Designing a System of Functioning of the Public Institutions and future Centers from Legal and Institutional Point of View

3. Capacity Building Activities

• Identifying Capacity Building Needs
• Public Awareness Raising
• Study Tour to Poland
• Workshops for Representatives of the Municipalities/Counties in the Regions related to specified topics (development of waste management plans, infrastructure financing, waste collection and optimization of transport, waste management costs and tarrifs)
• Final Conference on Practices of Managing RWMCs

Project Contacts: