Environmental policies are an attempt to solve the problems that the planet Earth is facing today. Waste management is one of the environmental protection policies that seeks to solve the problem of the growing occurrence of waste. Waste and inadequate waste disposal affect Planet Earth and the entire population of the world. Improper waste management has negative effects on human health, leading to the spatial problem of waste disposal, which consequently has an impact on the state's economy. Accelerated population growth and globalization processes have accelerated the generation of waste in all parts of the world, including the Republic of Croatia. Poorly managed waste management policy is the biggest problem of the Republic of Croatia. By joining the European Union, the Republic of Croatia has agreed to take over the acquis on environmental protection and waste management policies. The problem is manifested in poorly managed policies, poor harmonization of legislation and delays in the prescribed deadlines set by the European Union. In addition to the problem of inconsistencies in legislation, Croatia is facing problems with space and a lack of adequate infrastructure and a growing number of illegal landfills. In order to be more efficient in the field of environmental protection, the Republic of Croatia must improve the implementation of the circular economy. The circular economy offers many perspectives related to proper waste disposal. Waste should be seen as a resource that offers new opportunities in the world. New opportunities are manifested in the creation of new "green" jobs that offer employment opportunities in the environmental sector, opportunities to generate income from newly created materials from properly disposed waste and, consequently, a healthier and better environment for all participants. The key to improving and reducing waste in the Republic of Croatia is better use of European funds within the set deadlines, better and more efficient investments in infrastructure and a lot of effort and investment in educating citizens.