Analyses of the efficiency of the circular economy policies regarding the composting of the biodegradable waste in Croatia

Abstract This paper analyzes the effectiveness of two Croatian national strategies: reducing mixed municipal waste and enhancing the separate collection of biodegradable waste, including home composting. The study used two logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) models to decompose data into numerous influencing factors, enabling a detailed policy impact assessment tailored to the specifics of the national waste management system. Data on 31 biodegradable waste streams from 2017 to 2022, including national and EU financing mechanisms, were analyzed. Reports from 11 Croatian counties provided a robust foundation for evaluating trends in biodegradable waste management. Findings show moderate positive impacts from separate waste collection (1.06) and biodegradable waste management investments (1.28), where values above 1 indicate stronger positive effects. The strongest positive driver was biodegradable waste recovery, boosted in 2021–2022 by new legislation and equipment. Conversely, total composted municipal waste had a negative impact (0.13). Home composting had mixed impacts, slightly reducing waste sent to facilities while indicating that waste streams for composting remain of sufficiently high quality. The proposed models offer valuable tools for policymakers to evaluate, monitor, and optimize waste management strategies using accessible statistical data.