From the very beginning of the Green Phone, of all the problems that they notice in the environment citizens most commonly report problems which are directly or indirectly related to waste.

In 2016, out of a total of 2,562 reports received at the Croatian Green Phone Network, 36% is in the category of waste.

In urban areas, the reports are mainly related to poor infrastructure for waste separation (insufficient containers, insufficient separation containers, etc.) and the possibility of active participation of citizens in the process of recycling (inquiries about the proper disposal of certain types of waste, queries related to the work of recycling yards, etc.).
Activists of the Green Action’s Green Phone, which also covers the area of the city of Zagreb, believe that such a systematic neglect of separation and recycling resulted in the disposal of more than 90% of municipal waste in the Jakuševec.
On the outskirts of cities and in rural areas reports mainly relate to locations of illegal waste dumps. Within the category greenery 346 reports have been received, which is 13.51% of the total number of reports. Citizens are disturbed by non-transparent management of public green areas, the destruction of green areas, ragweed in private areas during the summer months.

A great number of problems have also been reported in the category water, namely 197 reports which is 7.69% of the total number of reports. Public sewerage system for domestic waste water in small settlements across Croatia is inexistent. The problem arises when individuals illegally discharge waste water and sewage water directly into the environment, causing a variety of contaminations. In several counties, Greens Phone activists received reports related to operations on rivers – the construction of small hydro power plants in violation of the regulations governing the area of environmental protection.

Within the category construction, we received 195 reports which is 7.61% of the total number of reports. The greatest number of reports within this category refers to the illegal construction. It is a burning issue in the “coastal areas” with cases of unplanned backfilling of the sea, concreting of the maritime domain, etc.

More than 60% of citizens’ reports were successfully resolved.

In 2017 we aim to further encourage citizens to address the problems of environmental protection and to continue to inform and encourage citizens to report environmental problems and intensify cooperation with local governments.

The number of the Green Phone is +385 72 123456. Green Phone is a service where citizens of Croatia can report various environmental issues and make suggestions, and the contact centre agents, activists from civil society organisations, forward the information to the competent institutions.

The contents of this call are the sole responsibility of Environmental association Pan - Karlovac and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or Croatian Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs