Croatia's fund-run register
Croatia does producer responsibility without the private schemes most countries use. RPPO is the Croatian EPR producer register.
Instead of joining a producer responsibility organisation, you pay a management fee for each waste category straight to the state Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
Eight waste streams run through the one register, reported digitally, monthly for packaging since January 2025.
How the Fund model works
This is what sets Croatia apart. The Fund (FZOEU) is both the register keeper and the body you pay, and there are no competing private schemes to choose between.
You register in RPPO, report your volumes for each category, and pay the Fund the per-category management fee. The Fund then finances the collection and treatment, so your obligation is a declaration and a payment rather than a scheme membership.
What RPPO covers
Packaging, electronics, batteries, vehicles, tyres, waste oils, single-use plastics and plastic-containing fishing gear. Beverage containers of 0.2 to 3 litres also carry a deposit-return.
Most of these fee systems have run since 2007. Single-use plastics and fishing gear were added from the end of 2024.
Who must register
Producers and importers that first place a covered product on the Croatian market, distance sellers included.
Registering and paying the Fund
- Identify which of the eight categories your products fall under.
- If you have no Croatian establishment, appoint a Croatian authorised representative (see below).
- Register in RPPO through the Fund's portal.
- Report your volumes digitally, monthly for packaging.
- Pay the per-category management fee to the Fund.
Foreign producers and RPPO
A producer without a Croatian establishment appoints an authorised representative in Croatia, who registers and reports in RPPO. The representative's authority is proven with documents the Fund approves.
Croatian terms you will meet
- RPPO: the Register of Producers with Extended Responsibility.
- FZOEU: the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund.
- Povratna naknada: the beverage deposit-return.
Frequently asked questions about RPPO
Short answers to what producers ask most.
Who must register in RPPO?
Any producer, importer or distance seller that first places a covered product on the Croatian market. Eight streams share the one register.
How is Croatia different from other countries?
There are no private producer responsibility organisations. You pay a management fee for each waste category directly to the state Fund, and register and report through RPPO.
How often do I report?
Digitally, and monthly for packaging since January 2025. Other streams follow their own cadence.
Do foreign producers need a representative?
Yes. A producer without a Croatian establishment appoints a Croatian authorised representative to register and report in RPPO.