We used to sell plastic to China, now we pay to have it taken away

As July marks Plastic Free July, an initiative dedicated to reducing plastic waste globally, Croatia is examining its own systems for collecting, recycling, and recovering plastic. The article highlights the efforts of municipal companies like Pre-kom, based in Prelog.

Đuro Ujlaki, director of Pre-kom, emphasized the distinction between waste collection and recovery. "We are just waste collectors; we do not deal with its recovery. That is a big difference. Other companies deal with recovery," he stated. Pre-kom reported a significant achievement last year, collecting approximately 17,930 tons of waste, an eleven percent increase compared to 2024. This volume positions them as a highly successful municipal waste management entity.

The company serves several municipalities, where waste separation rates are notably high. In Jalžabet, Varaždinska županija, the separation rate stands at 54 percent. However, the municipality of Belica in Međimurje županija boasts the highest rate in Croatia, reaching an impressive 74.4 percent. On average, households within Pre-kom's service area produce 227 kilograms of mixed municipal waste annually, with individual residents contributing 71 kilograms.

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We are just waste collectors; we do not deal with its recovery. That is a big difference. Other companies deal with recovery.