Analyses of the efficiency of the circular economy policies regarding the composting of the biodegradable waste in Croatia

Predrag Korica (Author), Andreja Žgajnar Gotvajn (Author)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of two Croatian national strategies: reducing mixed municipal waste and enhancing the separate collection of biodegradable waste, including home composting. The study used two logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) models to decompose data into numerous influencing factors, enabling a detailed policy impact assessment tailored to the specifics of the national waste management system. Data on 31 biodegradable waste streams from 2017 to 2022, including national and EU financing mechanisms, were analyzed. Reports from 11 Croatian counties provided a robust foundation for evaluating trends in biodegradable waste management. Findings show moderate positive impacts from separate waste collection (1.06) and biodegradable waste management investments (1.28), where values above 1 indicate stronger positive effects. The strongest positive driver was biodegradable waste recovery, boosted in 2021–2022 by new legislation and equipment. Conversely, total composted municipal waste had a negative impact (0.13). Home composting had mixed impacts, slightly reducing waste sent to facilities while indicating that waste streams for composting remain of sufficiently high quality. The proposed models offer valuable tools for policymakers to evaluate, monitor, and optimize waste management strategies using accessible statistical data.

Keywords

biorazgradljivi odpadki;logaritemski srednji Divizijev indeks;kompostiranje odpadkov;politike ravnanja z odpadki;Republika Hrvaška;biodegradable waste;logarithmic mean Divisia index;LMDI;waste composting;waste policies;Croatia;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2025
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
UDC:	628.473
COBISS:	246076163
ISSN:	1438-4957
Views:	116
Downloads:	29
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	biorazgradljivi odpadki;logaritemski srednji Divizijev indeks;kompostiranje odpadkov;politike ravnanja z odpadki;Republika Hrvaška;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 3816-3835
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ27
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ5
Chronology:	Sep. 2025
DOI:	10.1007/s10163-025-02343-z
ID:	27125767