Nature is not a dumping ground: here is how and where to dispose of waste for free

Nature is not a dumping ground: here is how and where to dispose of waste for free
It is strictly forbidden to dispose of any type of waste or trash outside of designated and marked places in the area of the Krka National Park

This is what the Ordinance on the Protection and Preservation of the Krka National Park dictates, but also our conscience. Plastic discarded in nature will take five hundred years to decompose, as is also true for cans, while organic waste, cotton, and paper will decompose in six months at most.

When referring to, a karst area such as the Krka National Park, the danger is all the greater when decomposed waste gets into the porous soil and then, through the underground network, into the water. Namely, karst rocks are porous and hollow, so water seeps through them. Hence, when we toss garbage in nature, every rain that falls washes it away and that polluted water carries it into the ground, which then pollutes the groundwater, which is the source of the water we use for drinking. When the water level rises, some of the polluted groundwater comes to the surface and returns the pollution. Just like the transfer of good substances in nature, pollution also circulates, having effect on both the underground and above-ground ecosystems.

That is why it is very important to dispose of waste only in designated places. All medium sized or larger waste that is created in a household should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. In order to remove and dispose of this type of waste, you can contact your municipal services, which will supply a schedule for free removal of such waste or tell you how you can dispose of it in an emergency procedure.

Bulky waste consists of objects or things that are unsuitable for collection as part of mixed municipal waste due to their dimensions or composition. If bulky waste is irresponsibly thrown randomly into nature or at an unregulated landfill, we all pay the costs of its removal, as is noted on the web pages of the firm The Green City of Šibenik, where you can also find the bulky waste removal schedule for given city districts.

In 2017, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nature issued a Guide to Bulky Waste, which states that oversized (bulky) waste is considered to be bathroom furnishings, children’s items, floor coverings, furniture, kitchen equipment, garden equipment, and other bulky items. You can also find this document on the official website of Rivina Jaruga, a utility company in the area of the city of Skradin, where you can also fill out a request for the removal of bulky waste.

In the area of the city of Drniš, communal services are performed by the firm Gradska čistoća Drniš. Citizens can dispose of bulky waste from their households in a large open container, which will be delivered to their home address at their request. Those who pay regularly are not charged extra for this service. The form for the removal of bulky waste, up to 2 m³ in volume, free of charge at the user's request, can be downloaded from the website.

The collection and transportation of waste for the needs of inhabitants in the area of the Promina Municipality is carried out by the communal company Eko Promina. The municipality of Promina, in cooperation with Eko Promina d. o. o. and DVD Promina, also organizes free removal of bulky waste for all citizens who are registered for the waste removal system. Information about this can be found at the website.

In the area of the municipalities of Kistanje and Ervenik, the collection, removal, and disposal of municipal waste is carried out by the company Komunalno poduzeće Kistanje. Information about this can be found on the website of the Municipality of Kistanje or by calling 022/338-936. In order for the area of the Krka National Park to remain preserved in its original form, undamaged by negative human influence, we kindly ask the local inhabitants and visitors not to throw waste into natural features, and for the competent services to report any inappropriate disposal of waste, so that in cooperation with the municipal services of the cities and municipalities that gravitate to the Park, we could react in time, remove the waste, and uncover the irresponsible individuals who committed this offense, according to the Nature Protection Act, of dumping waste in nature.

For this reason, the park rangers of the Krka National Park can issue fines, and in order to further protect nature and cover as large an area as possible, video surveillance has also been introduced in the Park.

Through long-term actions and active communication with the local inhabitants, the Krka National Park strives to deepen awareness of the importance of responsible waste management, with the aim of preserving the environment, nature, and planet Earth. Every year, we participate in the Green Cleanup, a joint one-day action to clean up illegal landfills, the largest volunteer eco-project in Croatia, which brings together active citizens and organizations, which represents part of the major global action World Cleanup, started in 2008.

Also, in order to point out the importance of the protection of nature and environmental preservation, we conduct numerous independent cleaning campaigns and educational workshops introducing children to nature. We get to know the living world that surrounds us and learn to recycle in order to contribute, through responsible behaviour, to the preservation of biodiversity, which we leave as a pledge to future generations.