Split Landfill Closes to Neighboring Municipalities Amid Capacity Crisis

The Karepovac landfill, serving Split and 16 surrounding municipalities in Croatia, will cease accepting waste from these neighboring areas beginning in August. The decision comes as the landfill nears its capacity limit, compelling the affected towns and villages to secure alternative disposal sites.

“

All must stop disposing of waste at Karepovac, I expect by the end of this month, and at the latest by the beginning of the next.

Split Mayor Tomislav Šuta confirmed the impending ban after meeting with representatives from the affected local governments. He stated that all municipalities must halt waste disposal at Karepovac by the end of July or early August. Currently, besides Split, the landfill receives waste from cities like Solin and Kaštela, and 13 other municipalities, including Omiš, Klis, and Muć.

“

The goal is to increase the waste separation rate, and I call on all citizens to do so. We are still lagging behind, and we must reach 55 percent.

While some municipalities, like Muć, have already found alternative solutions, the looming closure highlights the urgent need for waste management reform. The regional waste management center in Lećevica is not expected to be operational until 2028. Mayor Šuta emphasized the necessity of increasing the waste separation rate to 55%, a target that requires a significant shift in citizen habits. He warned that rising waste disposal costs will soon be reflected in residents' utility bills, aligning with European Union regulations and underscoring the importance of improved recycling efforts.

“

Education, education, and education. We will call on citizens to separate waste because everything starts at home and at the doorstep.