Zagreb Pay-As-You-Throw: fairer billing, less landfill

Citizens control their own waste bill

Zagreb introduced a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system following recommendations from Zelena Akcija under the EU-funded ERIC (Elevating Reuse In Cities) project. By late 2024 the city had cut landfilling by 20 % and boosted separate collection by 50 % compared to 2022: with full rollout expected by end of 2026.

What changed

• Open street bins in the city centre replaced with underground containers for separated and mixed waste
• Elsewhere, bins relocated into buildings and courtyards; caged and semi-underground containers added
• Households charged based on the volume of mixed waste they generate, not a flat fee

How to participate

• Sort household waste into the correct streams: you directly reduce your bill
• Follow Zagreb's city environmental office for updates on PAYT rollout in your district
• Support the advocacy to extend door-to-door collection to more neighbourhoods

Why it matters

PAYT aligns the incentive system: the less mixed waste you produce, the less you pay. Combined with infrastructure improvements, Zagreb is turning around one of Central Europe's larger urban waste footprints.

Source & repost

Shared here so you can get inspired or find action already happening near you. Solarpunker does not own or organise it.

• ERIC project: Zelena Akcija - ERIC
• Report chapter: ZWE State of Zero Waste Municipalities, 5th edition