Glass Recycling in Croatia

Since the Regulations for Waste Packaging went into effect in early 2006, the recycling rate of discarded glass has tripled. During 2006, 64.5 tons of cullet were delivered to Vetropack Straža, thereby increasing the rate of return from 19% in 2005 to 58.5% in 2006. Croatia has finally moved from the bottom of the list of European countries to the center. In the year 2007, 82.5 thousand tons of discarded glass were collected and processed in the local recycling plant, so that in our country the recycling rate of collected glass containers has reached 59%.   

Vetropack Straža is actively participating in the implementation of a new system for handling packaging waste. We have obtained a 10-year concession from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction (MZOPU) for the recycling of previously used glass containers. The collected glass is the property of the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency, from whom we purchase it. We have organized a warehouse facility at the factory that can hold approximately 4,000 tons of cleaned mixed cullet and introduced 3-shift operations in the recycling plant.   

We are continuing to conduct activities to educate suppliers regarding the required purity level of discarded glass. We are also continuing PR activities directed at educating young schoolchildren about the correct disposal of glass containers. On this year’s World Environment Day, we organized the presentation of a comic strip and poster on glass recycling for the students of the Viktor Kovačić Elementary School in Krapina-Zagorje County. We plan to send this valuable material, which presents glass recycling and its value as a packaging material in an accessible and popular manner, to all the elementary schools in the Republic of Croatia.

Vetropack Straža is the first and last link in the glass recycling cycle. Our privileged status as a glass manufacturer and processor obligates us to work toward permanent improvements in the system for handling discarded glass.