Glass recycling in Croatia 

Glass packaging that is not reused directly – such as many beverage bottles in return systems in other countries – should always be placed in a collection container and not in the general waste. This is because, in terms of volume, recycled glass packaging is the most important resource for the manufacture of new glass products. In Croatia, systematic glass recycling has been in place since the country joined the EU in 2013 and the introduction of the EU Waste Framework Directive, which set minimum quotas for glass recycling in 2008. The modern infrastructure (recycling centres, glass containers) was largely built with EU funding after 2014. 

According to the Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the rate of glass collected for recycling in the country was 63 percent in 2022, which corresponds to just under 51,000 tonnes of glass packaging. Under the existing deposit return system, consumers return bottles with a capacity of 200 ml or more to shops for a small deposit, where they are collected by private companies. An estimated 80 percent of containers covered by this system are collected for recycling. However, jars of all sizes and smaller bottles are collected in municipal containers as part of an extended producer responsibility system, from where they are transported to recycling facilities by municipal services. In this system, only about 30 percent of all containers are collected, and without separation by colour. The remaining 70 percent end up in the waste stream. Compared to the EU average, this leaves Croatia with considerable room for improvement.

Vetropack Straža d.d. is the only glass manufacturer in Croatia. In Koprivnica, Vetropack Straža d.d. ran a pilot project with the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE), Podravka Inc. – a leading multinational food manufacturer – and the local municipal service company Komunalac d.o.o. from autumn 2024 to 2025. The initiative focused on providing targeted information to consumers with the goal of significantly increasing the collection rate for glass packaging. 

Glass recycling at Vetropack

The glass delivered to Vetropack in Hum na Sutli by truck (domestic) or train (international) is first sorted manually to remove larger contaminants (organic contaminations, foil, paper, wood, plastic, ceramics, porcelain and stoneware). After mechanical separation, the cullet is sorted by colour and quality and then undergoes quality control.  

Vetropack is constantly working towards increasing the proportion of recycled material used in glass production. Recycled material purchased for reuse from Croatia domestically is additionally supplemented with Vetropack’s own glass cullet before being used to produce new glass containers. As part of its Strategy 2030, Vetropack continuously strives to reduce its own ecological footprint, improve the proportion of recycled material along the entire value chain for both single-use and reusable containers, and improve access to core resources (mainly cullet). 

FAQ's

Bottles (wine and juice bottles, bottles for vinegar, oil, etc.), food jars (jars for jam, pickles, pesto, etc.), perfume bottles and deodorant rollers, medicine bottles, disposable glass spice mills and glass bottle caps belong in the waste glass container.  

Glass products other than packaging are best disposed of in the general waste or at a recycling centre. These include flat glass (window glass, windscreen glass), glass tableware (drinking glasses, ovenware, vases), heat-resistant preserving jars, candle holders, light bulbs (incandescent bulbs, neon tubes), screens, mirrors, and borosilicate glass (laboratory glassware, vaccine vials). Stoneware, porcelain, and ceramics are not glass and should not be placed in the collection container. 

For detailed information, it is advisable to ask your local council or city administration about recycling centres or glass containers. You can also use local websites or apps for waste separation. 

Glass packaging does not always have to be rinsed before disposal, but it must be empty. When returning glass packaging to shops, the containers may sometimes have to be rinsed, depending on the individual collection point. Bottle and container caps should be removed and disposed of separately. Glass packaging should also be placed gently in the container so that it does not shatter too much. The smaller the shards, the more difficult it is for the processing plants to remove foreign matter. And of course, the surrounding residents will thank you – glass should also preferably be disposed of during the day and on workdays and not at night.

Further information

Additional information on glass recycling in Croatia is available at