Fixed portion of the price remains unchanged, but the variable part rises due to a 64 percent jump in waste disposal costs. The director of Nevkoš says residents can lower their bills by properly sorting waste.
Residents of Vinkovci can expect higher bills for communal waste collection starting September 1, 2026. The change comes as a result of a new concession contract, and it's important to note that the basic, fixed portion of the service price remains the same. It covers the separate collection of paper, plastic, and bio-waste and was last adjusted in May 2022.
What changes is the variable part of the bill, which pertains to the emptying of the green bin for mixed waste. Ivan Bertić, director of Nevkoš, the company holding the waste collection concession in Vinkovci and neighboring municipalities, clarified for Novosti.hr: "For the household category, the price of a single emptying of a 120-liter green bin increases by 2.30 euros."
According to him, a typical household in the city takes out the bin 1.63 times per month, which means the average monthly bill will rise by approximately 3.68 euros.
As the key reason for the price adjustment, Bertić cites the significant increase in waste management costs, which the local company cannot influence. "The price of landfilling municipal waste in 2023 was 70 euros per ton. Today it stands at 115 euros per ton, representing a growth of as much as 64 percent," he emphasized.
He also stressed that the pressure on prices will not ease soon. "Moreover, there are already announcements of further increases in disposal prices during 2027. When we add the uncertainty in the energy market, rising fuel prices, and the continuous growth of labor costs and wages, it's clear that a price correction has become necessary to maintain the same level of service quality," explained the director of Nevkoš.
Bertić also points out that the amount of the bill directly depends on individual behavior. "This is perhaps the most important message. Every user can influence the amount of their bill by properly sorting waste. The more paper, plastic, bio-waste, and other recyclable materials are separated from mixed municipal waste, the fewer emptyings of the green bin will be needed, and consequently, the bill will be lower," he said.
Company statistics confirm that many residents have already adopted this approach. "As many as 68 percent of our users take out the green bin at most twice a month. This shows that residents have recognized the importance of proper waste separation and that responsible behavior can yield concrete financial benefits. That's why we want to continue encouraging such practices because they benefit everyone-both residents and the waste management system and the environment," Bertić concluded.
