18.12.2025.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, together with minister Marija Vučković, and the director of the Fund, Luka Balen, handed over contracts concluded under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021 - 2027 for the construction of three waste management centres: Lećevica, Piškornica, and Lučino razdolje. At the beginning of his speech, Prime Minister Plenković said that the Government wanted to convey their vision of Croatia in the future - a country with high-quality, modern, well-organised waste management system.He said that the completion of the three waste management centres, for which EUR 186 million was allocated today, was expected in 2028, adding that these contracts were a success as these projects were spanning over many years and generating a lot of expectations, as well as frustration.
Piškornica will serve four northwestern counties: Krapina-Zagorje, Međimurje, Varaždin and Koprivnica-Križevci, and will allow for better waste disposal and management for over half a million people living in this area, while in the second phase it will partially cover the fifth county, Bjelovar-Bilogora.
Better waste disposal will also be provided by two centres in the south - Lećevica in Split-Dalmatia County, and Lučino razdolje in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, which are especially required given the challenges during the tourist season and an increase in the number of people. He announced that a similar dynamic will be used to resolve issues with the Waste Management Centre in Osijek-Baranja County.
Minister of environmental protection and green transition Marija Vučković emphasised that these contracts supported the construction of waste management centres, which were an essential part of the entire waste management system.
The minister added that we were on the right track to achieve the goals arising from the current Waste Management Plan 2023 - 2028, stating that Croatia should have 11 operational centres by the end of 2028. Although there would be more challenges, things are developing; last year three centres were in operation, today there are four, while Babina Gora will be in test operation in the first half of 2026.
