The closure of Split's Karepovac landfill in the midst of the tourist season threatens to pile up garbage on the streets, and eight local governments still have no alternative. Tučepi collects 13 tons of waste daily.
From Friday, August 8, 2026, nine towns and municipalities in the wider Split area will no longer be allowed to dispose of municipal waste at the Karepovac landfill in Split. Most of them have so far failed to find an alternative solution, causing alarm among residents and tourism workers at the peak of the season.
The municipality of Tučepi, which collects about 13 tons of municipal waste daily during the summer, faces a potential collapse of the system. Mayor Ante Čobrnić confirmed that intensive talks were held even today, but without success. "We received a judgment from the Commercial Court in Split back in 2015, which is enforceable, but we continued to dispose of waste. So, there is also a legal aspect to the whole story. Karepovac cannot be unilaterally closed without any legal implications for Split, financial and otherwise," said Čobrnić.
Residents are concerned about the possible turn of events. "Any normal person should be worried about this. What, are we going to end up like Naples, with streets covered in garbage? The unpleasant smell would be a huge problem," said Jure Tomaš Bajso from Tučepi.
Local restaurateur Ivana Sertić called the decision shocking. "It has been known for a long time that this could happen, especially during the tourist season, when almost everything in this area depends on tourism," warned Sertić.
Omiš, Dugi Rat, Zadvarje, Šestanovac, Baška Voda, Brela, Podgora, and Tučepi still have no alternative solution. These eight local government units still do not know where they will take their municipal waste from tomorrow. On the other hand, the City of Kaštela found a way out in time. The city announced that their waste will be managed at several locations in Croatia and that residents will not feel the closure of Karepovac.
From the affected municipalities, there are increasingly loud calls for the state to intervene. "I absolutely expect the state to get involved. I don't want to say we are more important than others, but it would be truly shocking if such a situation happened in the middle of the tourist season," said the mayor of Tučepi.
A long-term solution to the problem should be provided by the Waste Management Center in Lećevica, but according to current plans, it is not expected to start operating until 2028. Until then, the affected towns and municipalities will have to find temporary solutions for municipal waste disposal.
